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SupernaturalSomething of a themed set of recs this time. We got Dean with baby, baby Dean and gender swap fun:Untitled by booniesGen with undertones Very silly but cute story that sees Sam and Dean playing surrogate dads to an orphaned boy."Listen up, kid," began Dean authoritatively, "rule number one"The boy toppled over, snuggling into the seat.”Yeah, okay, we'll finish this conversation when you wake up."Family Comes First by ethrosdemonGenThis has already been recced all over and with good reason - it's brilliant. After a brief relationship Dean fathers a son called Jack and gives up a life of hunting to raise him. I adore the Dean in this story - he's recognisably the same strong, noble jackass from the series but this is a Dean who has finally realised that his life and his identity don't have to revolve around hunting. I love the fact that Dean immediately gives up hunting to raise Jack and that it is Sam who hunts on his own, Sam who wants to train Jack in the same way they were trained by their father. It's an interesting role reversal and one I completely buy into. The story also manages the Herculean feat of making me really like an original female character. Becky just plain rocks and the fact that I finished the story wanting her to commit to Sam shows just how well written she was. Go read - it will really cheer up your day!When Jack starts kindergarten, Dean actually cries. Sam laughs so hard he thinks he's broken something vital. Becky kicks Sam in the ass with her sandal when he doubles over, and Dean jumps on his back as the school bus rounds the corner. Living in Limbo by trollprincessGen This story also features Papa Dean as he becomes a father after a one night stand with a waitress. Rather melancholy in tone this story reads like the flipside of the sweet stories linked above - a dark fairytale full of menace in which you're not sure that there is going to be a happy ending."I had a bad dream about you, Uncle Sammy," she says, a gut punch in words.Sam forgets to breathe."I had a bad dream about you, too, kiddo," he says, and may not remember how to start breathing again for days.Under the Haystack by janissa11GenThe authoress calls this crack fic. This is clearly because she is a humble, humble woman because this story is just plain brilliant. Dean is cursed and wakes up as his seven year old self. It should be silly but isn't owing to the author's tender depiction of Little Dean. Little Dean manages to be feral, smart, foul mouthed, self possessed, and an utterly terrified little boy desperate to see his Daddy all at the same time. Little Dean just about broke my heart into a million pieces. I loved the sequence of him playing with Missouri's dog Duchess - it's clear that Dean didn't have a lot of time to just be a kid - but he can be with Sam. And Sam, oh Sam how much did I love you in this story? His agony over losing his Dean, his terror of having to play protector for the first time in his life, his fierce determination to take care of Dean - beautiful. The brief sequence with John just killed me. The Dean in this story is everything that I wanted Little Dean in the flashbacks sequences in Something Wicked to be and wasn't. It's a testament to the strength of the story that when I re-watch Something Wicked it will be this Dean I'll be seeing in my head.Dean is so small it hurts Sam someplace deep inside. He doesn't ever remember seeing Dean small, ever remember thinking of him as being small. To his little-brother eyes, Dean has always had a bigger-than-me glamour, and it is bittersweet now, while Dean climbs into his crisp new jeans and shirt, struggles with the laces of his stiff new sneakers. To Sam, Dean's always been larger than life. This jars him, makes him feel helpless and scared and overwhelmed with the sudden responsibility.Sew Buttons on Ice Cream (See if they Stick) and ...And the Horse You Rode In On both by trollprincessSam/Dean gender swapFurther adventures with girl/Sam and girl/Dean. Takes place in the same universe as This One Time, In a Michelle Pfeiffer Movie

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Ok so admittedly there are days when I'm not as quick on the uptake as I would like but it has dawned on me that tagging my entries "House"or "Supernatural" was a tad pointless as all the stories recced so far are from the Firefly, House and Supernatural fandoms. So, I'm going to go back and try and tag all the entries by author name so that if you want to say read everything I've recced by maygra you won't have to trawl through the entries.Just wanted to give a shout out to The Lawrence Awards set up by the amazing winterlive. Its's the first fandom wide awards set up for Supernatural media. There are lots of categories for Supernatural fanfiction and hell I'm already drawing up my shortlist. Nominations open May 15th.Artificial Exemplar by MayginGenI found this via a rec on TWOP and its adorable. Story of young Sam, Dean and a host of gummi bears on Halloween. Mr. Churbie's a friggin gummie bear Sammy; he can't hit you. You just killed an innocent. Sam expertly gave his brother the ˜oh my god, he's lost it look". But Dean wasn' backing down; he was in full debate mode. "Would you kill a man if he were possessed by an evil spirit?"No. Sam said defensively."Even if he did some horrible things while possessed?"Sam slumped, head tilted. "Dean, it's a gummie bear! He emphasized."It's a gummie bear that was used against his will". He said matter-of-factly. "And you just up and killed him". He shook his head. "I gotta say I'm a little worried about taking you on hunts Sammy with that attitude".Where You Land by sevenfistsGenBittersweet story telling the tale of the week Sam and Dean spent in Stanford searching for the demon after Jess's death. The end of the world, but Dean was here, Dean still loved Sam even though he had left; Dean, at least, forgave him. As for Sam, he was still breathing, which had to count for something."You'll live," Dean had said, and for the first time, Sam thought that he actually might.Caught in the Sun by trollprincessSam/DeanDean cheerfully rationalises his relationship with Sam.The World About to Come by esorlehcarSam/DeanCompanion piece to Guardians of a Rare Thing told from Sam's point of view.

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SupernaturalDeo Volente by eighth_horizonGenIncredibly sweet Dean centric fic which has him pleading with God to keep Sam safe when a hunt he, Sam and John are on goes badly wrong.If you could see Sam you would keep him safer than this.If you knew how cold Sam was you would make sure he was found.This one Time, in a Michelle Pfeiffer Movie by trollprincessSam/Dean gender swapI like to think of myself as a discerning fanfic reader. I know that gender swap fic is too silly for words and that I should really avoid it. But then trollprincess goes and writes this adorably sweet, silly and vapour inducing sexy story which has the boys cursed so that Sam is a girl during the day and Dean a girl by night and my resolve just crumbles. Cute and hot and I just love the idea that girl/Dean is so teeny that Sam feels he could slip her in his pocket!

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SupernaturalOut of this Darkness by maygraSlash Non-conAUAn extraordinary, intricately plotted, wonderfully characterised gothic horror/romance with clever allusions to Greek mythology which sees Sam and Dean coping with the end of the world. Poor Sam and Dean literally go through hell in this story. Utterly addictive (it may be nearly 50,000 words long but once you start reading you won't want to stop), its an emotional rollercoaster ride that will leave you wanting more.Superb.Death's Other Kingdom by Faye DartmouthGenDean must take care of Sam after he is permanently impaired after a hunt goes badly wrong.A very strong character study of Dean Death's Other Kingdom hands down wins the prize for the most depressing, saddest Supernatural story I've ever read! This story has just plain haunted me. It's agonisingly sad but manages (just!) to avoid being bleak. This works far better than some of the other dark fic I've read simply because Sam's accident and recovery, as gut wrenching as they are to read about are firmly grounded in reality and the story is all the stronger for it.Definitely worth reading.....just not if you're feeling the slightest bit fragile.Dean poked his 15-year-old brother, who was reading a book. "Sammy, would you rather be blind or deaf?"Sam went back to his book. After several minutes, he looked up again, cocking his head thougthfully. "You know, Dean, I'm not sure it would matter. Because if I was blind or deaf, wouldn't you just be my eyes or ears?"

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SupernaturalDiscerning the Angle of Eternity by drvsillaGenBeautiful, sad, wistful John centric piece. I'm always a fan of stories which don't demonise John and this is a touching read as Drvsilla portrays John as a man all too aware of his failings as a father but trying the best that he can.It doesn't get easier.Time heals nothing.The only perspective that distance brings is that it's even longer gone.Morgantown by ignipesGenHugely entertaining plot based story featuring necromancers, a well drawn original female character, telekinetic Sammy and some wonderful Sam/Dean interaction. It's just crying out for a sequel.In Your Loneliest Loneliness by estrella30Gen slight Dean/OFCSupremely angsty future fic in which Sam and Dean have parted ways and live very separate lives. Very well written - but it's almost distressing to think of the boys relationship turning out like this!Woven by eighth_horizonGenI never normally rec WIPs as there's nothing worse than recommending a story which never gets finished or ends weakly. However, for all those who like me adored And Fools Shine On and If Belief Was Enough run to Eigth_Horizon's LJ where the sequel Woven is underway. The prologue is a master class in setting tone and atmosphere - dream like and surreal. This time round Sam and Dean are investigating mysterious lightening strikes which may be "spooklights". There are four chapters up (including the prologue) and its already brilliant and truly scary. Go read immediately.Across the Universe by trollprincessJess/DeanAn AU in which poor Sammy is killed by Celine Demon. I didn't like Jess on the show and would normally run from any story featuring her but I love the way she is written here and her interaction and eventual relationship with Dean feels very real. Go the Other Way by sevenfistsSam/DeanFeaturing cross dressing "girl" Dean this is both hilarious and hot.Guardians of a Rare Thing by esorlehcarSam/DeanWonderful, incredibly sexy Sam/Dean story - I love the final line.

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SupernaturalThirty Two Flavours by trollprincessGenBeautifully written series of cleverly interconnected drabbles about Dean Winchester. The story gives us snapshots of Dean's life retelling how he got his amulet, his leather jacket, his love for the Impala etc. The last one is particularly beautiful.Let it Bleed by travellerJohn/OFC hetShort powerful character vignette with a brutal sting in its tail. Almost by Faye DartmouthGen violenceAlmost retells the endings of the Pilot, Bloody Mary, Skin, Home, Asylum, Scarecrow, Faith, The Benders and Shadow and says "What if?" What if the reaper had gotten to Dean in Faith? What if Sam hadn't stolen a car and found Dean in Scarecrow? What if the Winchesters didn't manage to escape from the Shadow demons? Innovative and distressing in equal measures (the alternate endings of Scarecrow, Asylum and Shadow especially got to me). A story for when you're feeling somewhat bloodthirsty!What its Not by maygraSam/DeanBeautifully written look at the Sam/Dean relationship. I love the way the words flow here, there is a certain frenetic urgent quality to the piece.It's not anything but what it is and it's not home and it's not safe and it's maybe not forever but right here, right now, every time, it's everything and the only thing.

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SupernaturalA few recs - all gen this time around.A Stand Up Man by alethialiaGenVery snarky, very sweet snapshots of the boys as they travel after Jess's death and Sam learns how to reconnect with his brother after a four year absence. Love the repetition of "X Miles since Jessica" as Sam painfully begins to leave Jessica and his grief behind. Dean, we're going to die right now and it's all your fault. This is what happens when you lie to your brother.Please. We're going to get out of this. We can't die at the hands of a human. That's just insulting.Double Dutch by traveller (Cee)GenSam and Dean travel to New York city in search of the demon that killed their mother and Jess. I adored Cee's last story which was John centric and this is every bit as brilliant. Written in a noiresque style which makes it read like a hard boiled detective novel and using the device of an unseen and unidentified narrator this really is an astonishing story. Incredibly atmospheric and intensely visual it takes its plot from the bible and effortlessly recreates it in a very modern and recognisable New York. The passage where Dean sees New York's ghosts on every corner is almost ethereal in tone. The words in this story don't so much flow as dance. Very highly recommended.But I like to think of this city as a stone and steel Eden, a garden of iron and concrete, with flowers of glass and tungsten. Three rivers instead of four, true, but all your wants, all your needs, all here for the taking. Millions of souls, dancing like fireflies on the darkest July night, brighter than all the neon, all the streetlights. Sometimes you can see them, from the high places, and sometimes from the low, sometimes when you're very tired or very drunk. Grief can do it, or great joy, but you must be open to the truth, that's the thing. And Fools Shine On by eighth_horizon (Gekizetsu)GenDean is possessed by a revenant and Sam and Dean must both figure out a way to save Dean (who's trapped in his own head) before it's too late.And Fools Shine On has a strong, involving plot and superb characterisation. Gekizetsu's depiction of a trapped and desolate Dean forced to the edge of suicide in his attempts to protect his brother is heartbreaking. And her Sam just kills me. I've always been more of a Dean girl but this strong, determined, sleep deprived Sam who is clinging to his sanity by a thread while being emotionally tortured night after night by the revenant wearing his brother's face won me heart and soul. Given the choice between flash and smoulder, the world may not be kinder to embers but it does respect them. Sam's embers will keep things going when Dean is through burning the world downIf Belief Was Enough by eighth_horizonGenAnd Fools Shine On was good - it's sequel is exceptional. After freeing himself from the revenant Dean is left unstitched - his soul open to the world as he and Sam investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Ellensburg.If Belief was Enough is a multi chaptered, compelling story but this time the plot takes a back seat to the interaction between the brothers. Her emotionally open, extremely vulnerable Dean who ends up spilling his every hidden thought to Sam without realising it broke my heart into thousands of tiny pieces. And poor Sam who finally has the emotional connection to his brother that he's always wanted but can't react to Dean's declarations of love without effectively exploiting Dean and wrecking their relationship forever. The writing is lyrical and the brothers interactions simply golden. And I'm ridiculously excited that the story is open ended paving a way for a sequel."I'm lost," he said softly, unaware that it was audible, unaware that Sam made a sudden motion toward him as if to grab him or just touch him, but then ran his hands through his own damp hair instead, eyes wrenched shut.Far...as in geologically speaking," Dean said gruffly."Geologically speaking," Sam agreed, and if he ever loved Dean more than he did right then, he wasn't sure he would be able to remember it.

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SupernaturalA favourite topic in the Supernatural fandom is Sam and Dean's childhoods - something that hasn't really been covered in the show so far and looks set to be dealt with in the upcoming episode Something Wicked.Until the show gets around to tackling the subject more explicitly here are three of my favourite Sam and Dean as kids stories:Special by Lady OpheliaGenI absolutely adore this story! Its a short very sweet piece about John speaking to Sam and Dean's principal at parent/teacher night. I love the visual of mini-hustler Dean and little baby Sammy who is so cute (and manipulative) that he can reduce his art teacher to tears. Quite brilliant.Miss Barrone, the second grade teacher, had sworn with God as her witness that if she heard the phrase, "but Dean said" one more time, she was quitting on the spot and to hell with her contract.John's expression was blatantly proud, and she had a sneaking suspicion his pride had less to do with his sons' academic potential than with their clear futures as criminal masterminds. She resisted the urge to throw her Oxford unabridged dictionary straight at his shiny white smirk. Dean's smirk. Sam's dimples.Ugh. There is no God.The Things You Don't Expect and You Get What You Give Both by alethialiaBoth genThe Things You Don't Expect - Little Sammy wants to know about the birds and the bees. Sweet look at the relationship between the Winchester men.You Get What You Give is also sweet and very funny. The Winchester family tackle the horrors of Halloween. Dean's distress at having to accompany Sam on a hunt whilst dressed as a large black M & M is hilarious and I love the Sam in this - he's both adorably sweet (his pride in the fact that his costume fits and his excitement at getting lots of candy) as well as truly evil in the way that only an 11 year old younger brother can be.To Forgive and Forget by joyfulgirl41Gen, violencePost AsylumVery similar to a celebrated Buffy episode this is an interesting and angsty take on the aftermath of Asylum.Pack up the Moon by trollprincessSam/Dean slight slashFutureficPost Shadow this future fic is a bleak and tragic look at the progression of Sam's powers. The Dean characterisation is very strong in this - he's terrified of Sam's powers and what it means for them but he'll remain Sam's protector to the last. It's also impressive how affecting her Sam is considering that the story is told from Dean's POV and Sam is virtually mute throughout.Sam is sorry, Sam won't do it again, Sam can't fucking help it, and he might not say any of those things out loud, but he hasn't had to in a while.Dean feels them just fine on his own, like Sam's painting his emotions on Dean's skin in broad, apologetic brushstrokes.And Dean wonders for the first time that day how much farther he has to drive before he can pull over the Impala to punch something.

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SupernaturalShadow was one hell of an episode and there are plenty of codas floating around on LJ. Here are a couple of the best:Cut and Run by maygraGenCoda to ShadowHeartbreaking, incredibly angsty and as always beautifully written story with our boys just in pieces after being forced to leave their father behind. There are so many powerful sequences in this story - Dean in shock tending to Sam's wounds, Dean breaking apart and unwilling to let Sam see his pain. A very fitting coda to an impressive episode.He scrubs his hands again in the sink because he's got Sam's blood under his nails and probably some bits of flesh too and it's the thought of any part of Sam being washed down the drain and into the sewer or the septic tank or whatever that breaks him. Unlike Sam he isn't willing to let his brother see him break.Never Alone by pixeloGenBoth a coda to Shadow and a charcter study of John Winchester this gentle story is a bittersweet look at John's relationship with Mary.Hey baby, he whispers in the silence of his vehicle. Did you know that we have one amazing pair of sons? He stops there, unable to continue because of the thick lump in his throat, and a tear mingles with his blood and runs into his dark beard. Through his open window, the night air gently sweeps his hair and kisses the back of his neck.The Falling Away of Masks by isolde13Slash Sam/DeanNon-conPitch black fic in which sweet little Sammy gets tempted to the dark side by a mysterious shadow demon. His initiation ritual? To rape Dean. I love the first three chapters of this story as the author cleverly ensures that Sam is the Sam we know and love - albeit a Sam with a very dark side. It's truly scary to think of our cute floppy haired Sam as the kind of guy who also tortured animals, killed a child in a fit of anger (and how much do I love the author for including that in the story as an almost throwaway line and then not dwelling on it - it shows just how little something like murder (even if he was provoked) bothered Sam in the grand scheme of things) and loved playing BDSM games with Jessica (major kudos to the author also for portraying the Sam/Jess relationship as anything over than true love). There is a real dark sensuality to the first three chapters with Sam as a charismatic villain in waiting. However, the final chapter is unremittingly grim with a one note Sam beating Dean to hell and back. Given that Dean's happiness is very much connected to Sam's proximity to him I rather suspect that a truly evil Sam would be able to play Dean like a maestro - without having to lift a finger to him in anger. It's also rather a shame that after the compelling build up we don't get to see the actual "claiming". Still a unique and very dark story that has clearly had influence - a number of "Dark Sammy" stories have started to spring up in its wake. The End is the Beginning is the End by la_folle_allureSlash Sam/DeanA re-telling of the end of every episode up to The Benders. I love the drabble about the Pilot and Dean's recollections about Mary and The Journey Home which may be all of two lines long but is agonisingly powerful. The only false note for me is Bloody Mary which is a little cliche for my tastes.Battlestar GallacticaI love BSG but it looks like my worries about being sucked into another fandom may be unwarranted. There is precious little fanfic out there and most of it seems to be centred around Starbuck, who naturally is the only character on the show I cannot stand. I'm a Baltar girl all the way so if anyone has any good Baltar/Six recs or if you've written any stories featuring that pairing that you'd like to see on her just leave me a comment.Thankfully the one Gaius story I did manage to find is truly wonderful:Seven Conversations in the Life of a Genius by mercurial_witHetThis story charts the life of Gaius Baltar through conversations with seven influential women in his life. Six may be the one we know the best but the women before her are just as interesting. I adore the first section with baby Baltar and his mother - ickle Baltar is portrayed exactly as I had always imagine he would be!

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SupernaturalI'm currently writing my own Supernatural story and to be honest the quality of the writing in the Supernatural fandom is so incredibly high I'm as nervous as hell about posting it!Anyway on to the recs:Tiny A's All in a Row by jwynnGenThe author describes the story as her love letter to Dean and it really is a truly beautiful look at Dean and his reationship with Sam. There are so many images that I love in this - Dean casually breaking the nose and arm of a bully who attacked Sam, Dean's pride over Sam's report card and the revelation that their no nonsense Marine father keeps all of Sam's report cards hidden in a box under his bed, Sam rescuing Dean from the demon that stalks their family and the final image of Sam sleeping with his fingers monitoring Dean's pulse. Choices by weestaGenEssentially Sophie's Choice but with a nasty demon instead of the Nazis, this is an interesting look at the Sam/Dean/John dynamic.For Whom the Bell Tolls by Spooky-girlGen, horror, extreme violenceThis story plays out like the episode The Benders should have done had the writers opted for a little more imagination than Deliverence-lite. Sam and Dean's R&R is interrupted when they face danger from an unlikely source. Well paced, compelling and strongly characterised throughout, the story is unfortunately let down by a very weak uninspiring final chapter which the author herself dismisses as "dull". It's a story crying out for an emotional resolution that it doesn't get - it's like the author finished the action part of the story and just didn't know how to proceed - so she just ended it. Word of warning - the author seems unfamiliar with fan fic etiquette and hasn't put a single warning at the start of her story - it is gen but for the more sensitive among you it is extremely violent with poor Dean being tortured to hell and back.Side of the Road by estrella30Sam/Dean slashSexy, angsty coda to The BendersShoot out the Lights by whereuponSam/Dean slashAnother extraordinary piece from whereupon both harsh and gritty and yet packed with beautiful, evocative imagery. Her Sam and Dean seem to love and hate each other equally while knowing that their only way of life is with each other.There are spaces between them. There are gestures without words and words that mean nothing at all. There are riddles and rhythms and textures and lines. There are photographs of a past that doesn't quite exist and there are dreams of a future they do not yet know. There are times when they've tried to leave, one and then the other, when they've said, I don't need you, and they've pretended to believe it was true.I'm Not Touching You by trollprincessSam/Dean SlashFun fic which imaginatively makes use of Sam's telekinitic abilities and features a novel, supernatural plot device to bring Sam and Dean together. Plus the concept of Sam using his supernatural abilities purely to irritate the hell out of Dean is entertaining.Comparative Morality by cupiscentSam/Dean slashVery hot and very believable Sam/Dean with no fluff or sentiment in sight. What Remains by annehigginsDean/Sam slashHighly original well-written story in which Sam is killed whilst on a hunt and his body is reanimated by an entity who falls in love with Dean. Whilst featuring plenty of (rather crassly described- I guess I like my porn to be more pretty) hot gay monkey sex this is hardly a fluffy piece dealing as it does with Dean's grief and his fears of abandonment. I'm also not too sure how I feel about the real Sam in this piece - his conversation with Dean at the end seems brutally harsh and insensitive with him dismissing his life with Dean as a life he never wanted. I guess because I'm a sucker for the fluffier fics I also rather hated the notion that even in death the two boys would remain permanently separated with Sam choosing a life with Jess over a life including Dean. Supremely angsty and really rather sad despite my reservations it is a very strong character study of Dean.

One quick Sup...

One quick Supernatural rec:Someday (Never Comes) by traveller (Cee)GenI read a lot of fan fiction as my journal will attest but occasionally a story will come along that literally leaves me speechless. This is one of those stories. It tells the tale of John returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam and how he meets and falls in love with Mary. It's lyrical, evocative, achingly sad and just equisitely beautiful. There are honestly no words that could do justice to how brilliant this story is. It's so good I actually picked up the phone and called my dad straight after reading it - it made me ache that much. Go read it immediately!

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Few recs in the House, Supernatural and Alias fandoms. As ever comments are gratefully received - because well, I'm needy!HouseKnots by pitza (Part 1) and extrabitter (remaining chapters)House/Wilson slash, violence, non-conSet pre-series this is an AU in which a drunken post divorce Wilson rapes House. Ignore my rather banal summary which makes the story read like something you'd find at FF.net this is an intriguing, truly original work which dares to do something a little different. Wilson is normally portrayed in the world of House fan fiction as a happy go lucky puppy dog - Wilson as predator is unheard of and the strongest elements of this story for me were the chapters that focused on Wilson and his mental state after the attack. Well written and unflinching those chapters strongly portrayed a man coming to terms with having committed a heinous act. The story has its problems however. As someone with experience of volunteering on counselling hotlines the over eager, insensitive, statute quoting law student on the other end of House's call to the rape crisis hotline hit a hideously false note. Cuddy's characterisation - very strong in the earlier chapters, falls away completely in the last two chapters to the extent that I can't hear her voice at all. Her interactions with Wilson in Chapter 11 are bizarrely indifferent and feel somewhat truncated - there is an entire chapter right there but what we actually get is unsatisfactory and very Un-Cuddy.And the ending is weak and unsatisfying. If you write a non- con story you write yourself into a corner in that you have to stay AU.However, the final section of this story could have been ripped from any House/Wilson fanfic - despite the premise the story ends with House and Wilson as firm (and mentally very fragile) friends. House's repetition of "Are we still friends" to the man who bit, beat, purposefully knelt on his damaged leg and brutally raped him is so pathetic as to bring tears to the eyes. Overall, its an intriguing, if not necessarily enjoyable, mostly well written story which deserves credit for trying to do something new.SupernaturalWhen We Were Young, We Were Still Subjects of the Story by onelittlesleepGenBeautifully written look at John and Mary's relationship which provides glimpses of Sam and Dean growing up.AliasBetrayal by tazzer416Sydney/VaughnMy love for Alias died right along with a certain character in the series 5 premiere - but whilst the show is now a pale imitation of its former self I used to be a massive fan and thought I would start reccing some of my favourite Alias fics.Betrayal is an extraordinary novel length story which reads like a perfect version of season 4. Every single plot thread that the writers abandoned (Sydney's missing years and her transformation into Julia Thorne, Project Christmas, Vaughn's marriage to Lauren, the suggestion that Vaughn went mysteriously missing for 6 months following Sydney's "death") - the author picks them all up and weaves them into a very intricate and compelling plot. Virtually every major character in the Alias world features in this story - not just the regulars but also the likes of Irina, Katya,Nadia, Lauren's mother, Sark, Francie, Will - even bit part characters in the show get their chance to shine here. It really is a superb story. Slight word of warning - as far as I'm aware the story is only hosted on the SD1 boards which means you have to wade through pages of comments to get to the next part of the story. The pay off is worth it - but it does require some patience.Chains of Self by lunaVaughn/Sark slashThe Sark/Vaughn slash movement sadly wasn't that prolific and this is without a doubt the best Vark fic that I've read. Set directly after the events of the Season 2 finale this sees Vaughn and Sark growing close after Sydney's death. Well written and with some suitably steamy sections this is a story which is crying out for a sequel which sadly I don't believe was ever written.

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Thought I'd mention a couple of older House stories I hadn't gotten around to reccing yet:Flying by movies_michelleHouse/Wilson slashI love all of Michelle Christian's stories and selfishly wish she were a little more prolific. This is a post Autopsy fic in which House tries to make amends to a pissed off Wilson. What I love about her stories is that they are both full of porny goodness and very strong characterisation - a successful combination which House fanfic writers rarely achievel. As always her House and Wilson voices ring completely true - turning what could have been a pwp into a story that you'll want to re-read.Excessive Tape and Major Miracles by barely_beanHouse/Wilson slashHouse realises his feelings for Wilson in the wake of Wilson's divorce. Very funny, sweet story which features very cute interaction between the ducklings and a highly amusing Cuddy. The riff about the hospital training its staff to be alert for terrorist threats (excessive tape on a parcel being characteristic of mail bombs) and House ignoring such warning signs in his pursuit of the truth about Wilson is a very deft metaphor and just very true to House's nature. "I was busy. There were lives at stake.""You're sitting here watching General Hospital.""I didn't say real lives. Carly's going in for emergency surgery today and Sonny might get to the hospital too late. It's riveting."

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Some more recs and a tragically needy request! Because LJ doesn't have a counter I honestly have no idea whether anyone ever reads this beyond my nearest and dearest. So if you read and enjoy the recs I'd love it if you commented - just so that I know I'm not doing the written equivalent of talking to myself. Hell friend me - I'll friend you right back! Also if anyone has any great recs of pairings that I wouldn't normally read: House/Cuddy or House/Cameron in the House fandom or Sam/Jess, Dean/OFC in the Supernatural fandom I'd love to hear them.Oh and anyone has any tips on how to spruce up the journal - well they'd be gratefully received - I'm technologically inept when it comes to such things.Onto the recs:HouseThe Fine and Subtle Art of Cardiology by RageprufrockHouse/Wilson mild slashI remember Pru well from the Smallville fandom so was very excited to see her playing in the House fandom. This story takes the rather well used route of having House be jealous of a new (male) friend in Wilson's life. That being said it features sharp characterisation (I particularly like her Cameron which considering I normally can't abide any form of Cameron is impressive) and is very, very funny (House's codenames for the ducklings are hilarious). The author makes House's begrudging realisation that he has a crush on his best friend very believable and I love that her Wilson has a backbone and isn't the long suffering doormat so many House/Wilson writers portray him as. Here's hoping Pru embraces the House fandom and writes lots more! By three, he's wordlessly irritated by everything around him--including the air molecules, and everybody in the hospital is giving him a wide berth, making it that much more difficult to trap Cameron in the labs and ask, "Do I have a crush on Wilson?"After which there's a whole bunch of shouting and House having to say, "Oh my God, would you get over yourself?  You did not make me gay!" and then reneging later in the conversation out of sheer annoyance and yelling, "Okay, you know what?  You did, you totally did," while Cameron gives him soulful looks like she's finally decided what about him is more pathetically worthy of her fixation with lost causes than even his leg.  Kinks by acidicflowerHouse/Chase slashGiven what a whining little bitch Chase is on the show the prospect of Dom Chase seems ridiculous - but this is unbelievably hot stuff. A dominant - very naughty Chase plays a little role play with House during office hours. Red hot, without being explicit.Carpet Burn by nakenoHouse/Wilson slashAn intriguing pwp written in a very distinctive style (the author references James Ellroy as an inspiration). Hot, almost harsh, sexy and definitely unsentimental. SupernaturalDecomposure by PaperbkryterGen, horrorAs this story is housed over at FF.net (aka The Pit - home of Mary Sues and 13 year old writers) I never would have discovered it on my own so thanks to the TWOP Supernatural fan fic thread for reccing it. Decomposure is a compelling, deeply creepy story which has a devastated Dean re-animating Sam's corpse after he is killed by a wearwolf to somewhat disastrous results. The undead Sam is deeply chilling and Dean just breaks your heart. I made the mistake of reading this at work, which meant I was sat there fighting tears at my desk at the very affecting ending. One of the most original, plot driven gen stories that I've seen.That Old Slippery Slope by scribblinlenoreSam/Girl Dean hetThere is just absolutely no way that a story which begins with Dean waking up as a girl should work - but this one does. Sweet (Sammy being protective of his older "sister's" virtue is adorable), funny and absolutely smoking hot. I don't think there are words that can accurately describe just how scorching hot the Sam/Girl Dean action is in this fic. I love that the author makes no attempt to explain the mcguffin - Dean just wakes up as a girl - no rhyme, no reason. The ending with Dean snuggled up in Sam's arms is just beatiful. It may be crack fic - but its brilliantly written crack fic!

Superna...

SupernaturalThe Sound and the Fury by and_I_WaitedGenThis is one seriously nasty little story! A very violent piece in which indescribable horrors are visited upon all three Winchester men. Powerful and incredibly sad.The Company You Keep by MaygraGenI have absolutely no idea how Maygra manages to produce story after story of such high quality - I'm rather in awe of her. This is a very melancholy ghost story in which Sam is trapped by a lonely spirit while he and Dean investigate a routine haunting. My heart breaks for her Sam who has resigned himself to a lonely end and Dean is just wonderful in this story.Guessing Games by Lithium DollGenCoda to Bloody Mary in which Dean tries to wheedle Sam's secret out of him. Funny, sweet and surprisingly soothing. Such Sweet Ruin by LenoreSam/OFC Dean/OFC Sam/DeanAn ancient goddess who thrives on tempting the innocent decides to have some fun with our boys. Smoking hot and featuring a wonderful original female character this is beautifully written smut.

S...

SupernaturalLooking Glass Dreams by MaygraGen12 connected drabbles with a fascinating plot that I would love to see expanded into a longer fic. Beautiful and poetic with some amazing lines:"Other people run in the dark," he says. "We don't. We stand." When Sam's shadow disappears in the bright light of day, Dean only smiles and says. "Look, man. You're Peter Pan."Sam grins back. "I guess that makes you Tinkerbell."Dean is undisturbed. "She was small but she could kick ass."The last image of Dean and Sam lying in bed clasping hands is particularly affecting.Nursery Rhymes in Braille by WhereuponGen with hints of Sam/Dean should you choose to see it.Another short but powerful story from Whereupon. Dean is taken by a succubus and Sam finds him. This fic is all about what is left unsaid - there is so much churning emotion between the surface of her Sam and Dean - it's breathtaking. I especially love the fact that the demon who takes Dean isn't all powerful - and that Sam dispatches her in such an anti-climatic way. The ambiguity in the story (was Dean captured or did he go willingly?) is also fascinating. Whereupon manages to convey so much with very few words which is why she is one of the best writers out there in the Supernatural fandom.They took the wrong road, but they didn't get lost. They always end up where they need to be and they're always in time. He sleeps, and there are roads, always, and there is fire. In another world, Dean breathes carefully against the weight of memory, and they are bound together by flame, and by childhood, and by each other.Nothing and Time by DrvsillaSam/Dean SlashReally beautiful,vivid ghost story which flows like water. Sam's nightmares of a dying Dean are especially haunting.Landmarks by Estrella30Sam/Dean slashSweet, almost soothing story with a pitch perfect Sam and Dean.

Supernatura...

SupernaturalElementum Res.Progressus by MaygraSam/DeanNew Maygra - Oh happy day! Sam is air and fire, Dean earth and water. Maygra takes each of the four elements and shows how each of them make the boys who they are. Beautifully written and lyrical packed with evocative images.Beautiful by AudraroseSam/DeanSam and Dean hunt for vampires in a goth club. It could have been very silly but in fact its a short, effective, highly sexually charged piece with the ever present (but not visible) vampires creating a real atmosphere of menace throughout. The Rules Remain a Mystery by Joyfulgirl41Sam/DeanBizarrely in the Supernatural fandom I'm finding that some of the most effective stories stem from the cheesiest plots imaginable. And they don't get more cheesy than this - Sam and Dean visit a small town where young men are mysteriously being murdered. Having realised that the threat is a succubus who prays on virgin men Sam must help Dean (the world's most unlikely virgin) before he falls for her charms. Smell that Camembert! However, it's a hugely entertaining romp of a story. Yes it's unlikely that Dean is a virgin but actually the author is very convincing in her portrayal of a Dean who is all bluff and whose bizarre childhood has left him completely unaware of how to even speak to a woman. And its packed with some truly wonderful lines:""Yeah. Well, I guess the obvious solution is to get you laid."Dean rolled his eyes. "Thank God for all that fancy college learnin'. Should we just go get a hooker? Or do you think, 'Hey, would you mind terribly if I banged you so that I won't be vulnerable to the succubus that's preying on the town's virgin men?' would work with one of the local girls?"Okay. Have you, um. Have you ever given and/or received oral sex?"Dean's forehead wrinkled. "You mean like over the phone?"Hilarious and rather sweet - I think Virgin Dean may be my new favourite!

HouseHous...

HouseHouse/Wilson V Mild SlashThe Lost Shall Be Found by GenaThis is absolutely hilarious. There are so many funny lines that if I quoted them I may as well post the entire fic here but I especially loved this:Even a partially successful attempt at learning to play Jenga with bedpans hadn't alleviated the stifling monotony of being the brightest star in the medical field of Princeton, most of New Jersey, and, he liked to think, docporn.com. and thisHouse reached for the phone and in his best unbearable-agony-being-manfully-repressed voice, one he had cultivated through college, med school and various other gullible institutionsSupernaturalThe Thousand Ways to Bleed by LithiumdollGen with a slight hint of Sam/DeanWoo - is this one deceptive! I confess that when I first read this one I rather skim read it - it didn't really grab me...until I reached the end. This story has one hell of a sting in it's tail and definitely improves upon a second read. Highly original, somewhat disturbing and a situation you could easily find happening on the show. Certainty by StillaneGenVery short and highly affecting look at the truth behind Sam's dreams. Haunting.Lest it Come True by MahaliemGenAfter the events of the episode Asylum Dean meets a wish demon - in the shape of George Clooney - who tempts Dean with the promise of the road not taken. Highly original, sometimes amusing story that resolves Dean's post Asylum issues in an extremely satisfying way.City Limit Line by WhereuponGenBeautiful, intensely visual piece. Short but packs a hell of a lot of punch.Just a Little Lullaby by Joyfulgirl41GenAny hardened fan fic reader will be able to guess the twist in this story pretty early on but that doesn't make it any less affecting. Sad but strangely sweet.No Quarter by CeeSam/Dean SlashShort, sexy as hell and just plain poetry.

Supernatur...

SupernaturalCracked by WhereuponGen Coda to AsylumSupernatural is a fun, guilty pleasure to watch but the show's biggest crime is that it often forces the brothers into situations that it has no intention of ever following up on. In Asylum Sam shot Dean in the chest with rock salt, before pointing what he thought was a loaded gun at his brother's chest and firing not once but four times! Next episode it was like the incident had never happened and you can guarantee that by the end of the 1st season it won't be mentioned again. So thank god for fic - Cracked is a harsh, unflinching look at Dean's state of mind after the shooting incident and his unwillingness to just instantly forgive his brother. Lines like this killed me:So Sam bleeds and breathes and hits him, and Dean's no longer alone. Together, they're still broken, but they're stronger than he could have imagined.After Midnight by And_I_WaitedGenAgonisingly sad look at a deteriorating Sam following Jess's murder. Beautiful and truly painful.Time by WitchofthedogsSam/Dean SlashPoetic look at the boys over the course of a single day. Dream like and rather beautiful.A Crisis of Faith by Geminigrl11GenShort, angsty look at the brothers following Dean's healing in Faith.

It'...

It's been a while since I updated and good House/Wilson or hell even House/Chase stories are still pretty thin on the ground. Hopefully Sela Ward's imminent departure from the show and the refocus on the central cast will inspire some fic writers and stop me having to wade through quite so much dreck to get to the very few gems!HouseLies, Damn Lies and Statistics by NigeltdeHouse/WilsonWilson and Julie get divorced and a jealous House becomes convinced Wilson is sleeping with Cameron. Well written and very amusing with a particularly good House voice. It isn't perfect - the climatic House/Wilson shouting match is a tad melodramatic and I would wager that the author if British as occasionally House sounds a little too like Hugh Laurie than Greg House but overall a very good first story from a new writer to the fandom.SupernaturalThe Secret Life of Demons by Maya TawiDean/OMC SlashSupernatural slash which doesn't feature both brothers is something of a rarity. To actually find a slash story which prominently features original, well written and engaging original characters is even rarer. The story is simplicity itself - Sam and Dean meet up with a succubus and an incubus and things do not quite go according to plan! The succubus is particularly well written and I love all the wry scenes of her and Sam - Sam's realisation that she lives a more mundane and ordinary life than him is particularly amusing - as is the part where she wistfully looks at her mothers favourite photograph - and recalls how her mother fed on the photographer immediately afterwards! However, I confess to finding the tone of the piece a little uneasy as it juxtaposes very amusing, snarky scenes of Sam and his new succubus pal with scenes of Dean essentially being raped by the incubus. Unholy by Isolde13Sam/Dean SlashOuch this one really, really hurts. In the Supernatural fandom Wincest is far more prevalent than the gen stories but normally the stories tend to be rather fluffy, featuring the boys in a loving equal relationship. This is the only story I've read where one of the brothers isn't at all interested in the sexual side of the relationship. The depiction of Dean giving himself regularly to his brother purely because he likes to see him happy is heartbreaking. Short, highly angsty and with a happy ending nowhere in sight. Ain't Scared of Lightning by JwynnGenDamn this is brilliant. Very funny, very sweet gen story told from Dean's point of view. Dean's excitement over his array of cool weapons is hilarious!At Night by Pixel OGen Faith AUThe episode Faith was one of the strongest Supernatural's to air to date (helped mostly by a very strong performance by Jensen Ackles) and its prompted a glut of fics of which At Night is one of the strongest. It's an AU which tells the story of what might have happened to Dean if Sam hadn't found a faith healer to cure him. Very sad without being cliched or overly sentimental. I choked up a little at the end I will confess!Supernatural is still a relatively new fandom but when it comes to fanfiction there is already one writer who is head and shoulders above the rest. Maygra's work is simply stunning and literally everything on her webpage is worth reading. Her False Comforts series which took the episode Skin and turned the generic villain into a truly chilling family of horrors is spellbinding and an excellent place to start. However, I thought I'd list a few of my favourites of her other stories:Room and BoardSam/Dean Sam/OMC SlashOK I will confess that the plot of this story is more than a tad cliched. Dean and Sam experience financial difficulties after Dean gets in trouble with the law and Sam solves their problems by going to work as a hooker in a Turkish Bath. However, if you ignore the slightly silly plot this is extremely well written angsty smut and her Dean and Sam are utterly compelling throughout.The Fall From Grace in Ten Easy StepsSam/Dean SlashTen beautiful, incredibly lyrical connected drabbles which gave me the shivers. Nine and ten are particularly haunting.Don't Pay the FerrymanGenNovella length story which weaves in the story of the dark figures who stalk Sam's life in a wholly original way. The whole thing plays out like one long beautifully constructed episode. The characterisation is spot on, the action is tense and the it plays out at a rapid pace, and yes I ws nearly in tears at the end. Couldn't recommend it more highly if I tried. Utterly superb.

HouseNo Arg...

HouseNo Argument by SelfishlywarmHouse/ChaseI confess I found the narrative a little confusing - almost surreal at times but this is a very engaging story with an amazing Wilson voice.Wilson's panicked inner musings the morning after as he realises that he can't remember Chase's name are laugh out loud funny. Loved that he knew Julie would realise he was cheating on her by the mere fact that someone had rummaged through her cupboards. Chase and House's shared fondness for Pop Tarts was also adorable. Different but very good.Less Than a Fairytale by Acidic FlowerHouse/WilsonThis is House/Wilson as it should be. Sweet, sexy and angsty all at once. Fits wonderfully within the canon of the show. FireflyIn Stitches by KMSGenPre SerenitySweet, gentle look at the Firefly group dynamic through Simon's eyes. Sadly a grating and uttterly unnecessary pop culture reference middway through prevents this from being the classic it could have been. (Songs from The Sound of Music have no place in the Firefly 'verse - well not unless you putting the characters in a modern setting and the songs link to Simon having a moment of realisation that is!)Dangerous Cargo by NestraMal/SimonPre SerenityI think this has shown up on just about every Firefly rec list so who am I to be contrary? Personally I don't much go for Mal/Simon as I just did not see those undertones on the show. This would have worked just as wonderfully as a gen piece - but well a little smut never hurt anybody! Her Mal voice is perfect and several of the lines are laugh out loud funny. All of the crew are well characterised and the whole thing reads just like an episode of the show - well if it had aired on HBO that is! Cicatrix by HopeJayne/SimonPost SerenityJayne and Simon in the immediate aftermath of the events of the movie. Very sad and melancholy with some truly beautiful lines especially: "He's struck by a sudden surge of almost-grief for how things were, back when they all had people to pretend to be, roles to perform; back before all the masks got ripped off and everything had to be wrapped in bandages instead. "River's repetition of "All Better" is also perfect.I Told You So by LinaelynJayne/SimonPre SerenityI confess that when it comes to fanfic if the summary states that the fic is the author's first foray into a certain fandom I tend to avoid it. There's always something of a learning curve and an author's first piece in a new fandom is seldom good. This is the exception. I love the contrast in Simon and Jayne's letters to their mothers and how the author shows that the pair are grinly fascinated by each other straight away - even if they haven't quite worked out why. Lil Kaylee sobbing her heart out to Inara about Simon is also a lovely moment and the ending with River and Book is great.Bitter Like This by GoldatameraGen (Jayne/Simon if you really squint)Pre SerenitySimon considers his life and what he has lost. Beautiful, vivid, evocative, this is a truly stunning piece of Simon introspective. Daisy Daisy by GoldatameraGen - hints of River/SimonPre SerenitySet after Objects in Space with Simon recovering from being shot by Jubal Early this is a quite extraordinary story. On first read through its a beautifully written wonderful character study of Simon and his relationship with River (I'll be your bounty but she'd only ever been Simon's. It isn't until you read the last few lines however that you realise what a truly brilliant and nuanced piece it is. Needless to say your appreciation of it grows with a second reading. Stunning.SupernaturalWelcome to MemphisCaution:Falling RocksAltars of Stone and WindFor the Love of Mother NotWhisper to a ScreamAll by MaygraSam/Dean WincestThe Supernatural episode Skin was a fan favourite featuring as it did healthy doses of Sam/Dean angst and a kick ass fight between our boys. Maygra took up the central idea of a murderous shapeshifter and decided to run with it creating a superb story False Comforts (link in one of my previous entries) which I doubt will be bettered on the show. The above stories are all sequels to False Comforts with the later two stories being slight tangents showing things from the devil's perspective (so to speak!). Skin didn't really bother giving the central shapeshifter a personality relying instead on the fact that the audience would be too thrilled at watching Jensen Ackles play a raging sociopath to care. Maygra makes her shapeshifters genuinely terrifying and painfully human. Their motives are understandable - after all if someone killed one of your own wouldn't you hunt them to the ends of the earth?Poor Sam and Dean are haunted and emotionally battered in these stories and your heart bleeds for them. And the last line of Altars of Stone and Wind - utterly chilling!

Not m...

Not much decent House fic around at the moment. Seems to be two or three teenage girls churning out really poor stories and not much else. I blame Sela Ward - the past two episodes of House have been so poor it's no wonder the fan fic writers aren't feeling particularly inspired.So I've heavily gotten into Firefly fics lately so here are some recs for you. These are new to me but owing to the age of the fandom have probably actually been kicking around for a while.Whilst I mostly read slash that doesn't mean that I see it in every show I watch. It took me a while to see the slashy undertones in Firefly but once I did there was just no avoiding them. There is just something about pretty, prissy Simon and man ape gone wrong Jayne that works wonderfully well in the world of fan fiction.Tetchy by DebchanJayne/Simon slashJayne and Simon in a series of escalating practical jokes. Features a very mischevious Jayne and a Simon with a backbone. Very funny and cute.Lie Down by Ana GrrlJayne/Simon slashA frustrated Simon propositions Jayne.Much more realistic than the normal fluffy Jayne/Simon stories with an almost disdainful Simon who just wants to lose himself in feeling if only for a short while.Told from Simon's point of view - although Jayne is well characterised.Ritual by Pearl-OSimon/RiverI adore Summer Glau and Sean Maher and thought the Simon/River relationship was by far the most compelling on the show. In the series I saw it as nothing more than a pure relationship but in the realm of fic that has been turned into something far darker and more tragic. Ritual is a beautifully written series of three drabbles showing River and Simon before the academy, on Serenity and one possible ending for them. River's desperate need to be normal, to have what everyone else has, even if that means sleeping with her brother is heartbreaking. By the time River is saying "Ten Fingers Ten Toes" you want to weep for her loss of innocence. Not an easy read but haunting nonetheless.The Secret Chord by Juliet TorresSimon/RiverAnother very sad Simon/River piece. The idea that River is on some level controlling her brother's mind is distinctly horrific and poor Simon's despair is palpable.Eros and Agape by Tara LJC O'SheaSimon/Kaylee Simon/River (Unrequited)A jealous River ponders the differences between Simon's love for Kaylee and his love for her. Beautifully writtenLogos by TeSimon/RiverA desperate River breaches the growing gap between Simon and herself the only way she knows how. Perfect creepy River voice.Wounds From the Past - written by 14 different authors - For list see linkJayne/Simon, Mal/Simon, Simon/Mal/JayneNovel length intricately plotted story featuring a surprisingly well written group dynamic between Mal/Jayne/Simon. Several of the scenes between our boys are as hot as hell! The remainder of the cast are fleshed out well with a particularly effective River voice and a nice plot twist concerning Shepherd Book. Only downside is that the story is overly reliant on sexual assault as a plot device. Simon is nearly raped by two different characters and Mal is raped by an ex-lover. Considering how impressive the rest of the story is the sexual assault element should have been dispensed with entirely.

Just as I...

Just as I was beginning to despair about the quality of House fic two really exceptional stories come along at once!Broken by BlackEyedGirlHouse/Chase SlashOh my this is wonderful! I'm more of a House/Wilson girl myself but House/Chase has always struck me as somewhat more likely within the context of the show. And this story is just perfect. House and Chase are absolutely spot on - vey few writers seem to be able to do a decent Chase voice but this author completely captures Jesse Spencer's inflections and patterns of speech. The set up is credible (after all how many times can the ducklings break into patients homes without there being serious consequences?) and it's quite nice to see such a well written story that doesn't immediately dive into smut (not that there's anything wrong with smut of course!) Very highly recommended.Pesach by PwcorgigirlGenOf all the plot threads that the show has left hanging the mystery of what happened to Wilson's brother has always been the most intriguing. This is a beautifully written story which deals with the aftermath of Wilson finding out that his brother is dead. Well plotted, genuinely sad and featuring a strong House/Wilson friendship that owes nothing to slash this is a really beautiful story and definitely the strongest gen story I've read in a long time.Spirals by Cryptictac and Fated Addiction House/Cameron/Wilson Slash and HetNormally any story that includes Cameron in the pairing makes me want to run screaming for the hill but even Cameron haters should give this story a try. Basically this story features a very drunk House/Wilson/Cameron in a hotel room after a medical conference and wackiness promptly ensues. Well written this effortlessly switches from Wilson and Cameron's point of view and features a far more compelling Cameron than the show has succeeded in portraying so far. It is also scorchingly hot - this is the sort of story that you definitely want to read alone well away from prying eyes! Most definitely not work safe in any way shape or form! This is the first chapter in a continuing series and the second chapter has already been posted. I suspect that I won't persevere with the story simply because by the end of the first chapter the slash element seems to have been abandoned and judging by the vibe of the second chapter the series will focus more on House and Wilson fighting over Cameron than House and Wilson having difficulties over Cameron coming into the middle of their relationship. The Alice in Wonderland metaphor is also rather overused - but that could just be because after 4 years of watching Alias I'm rather tired of it as a metaphor in the first place! BUt whether or not you read the subsequent chapters the first chapter does stand alone as a fiercely erotic work of fiction.False Comforts by MaygraSupernatural Technically gen but with slash undertonesThe Supernatural episode Skin was the sort of story fan fic writers adore - after all what's more fun than a shapeshifter who can assume the form of any member of the cast? False Comforts is a long, intricately plotted piece that riffs on the idea that there may have been more than one shapeshifter out there. Disturbing and distinctly violent it captures the personalities of Sam and Dean perfectly. I'm still impressed that such a new fandom has already attracted such strong writers. Recommended.

Man it's ...

Man it's getting hard to find new good House fic these days. The incredibly unhelpful mod over at the TWOP forum has arbitrarily locked the fanfic rec thread and a lot of the stuff being posted at the mo seem to be fairly poor drabbles related to the fanfic 100 challenge. If I read one more story in which Wilson dies in a car crash I may scream! Guess its time to rec some oldies but goodies:Infectious Personalities by SwordkatHouse/Wilson slashThis story is the best I've seen at teaming both House/Wilson slash and an intriguing medical mystery that would not seem out of place on the show. The author clearly knows what she is talking about when it comes to the medicine and her writing is solid and fast paced. I have major issues with how incredibly public House and Wilson are about their new relationship in this story (this is one of those stories where all the other characters just instantly accept the central relationship) although ironically the actual depiction of the physical side of their relationship is distinctly tame (something the author rectified in the ongoing sequel Toxic Lives). Also given the build up he receives the villain, when he finally makes an appearance, is disappointingly bland. Still a highly enjoyable serial.All the Effects of Intoxication by OtterHouse/Wilson slashFeaturing a not terribly likeable Wilson who doesn't quite seem to know what he wants this is a distinctly angsty House/Wilson story with a good House voice.Denial by PunHouse/Wilson slashVery hot, well written angsty House/Wilson with a believably desperate Wilson and a completely off balance House. I love the hopeful note at the end.The Day After Yesterday by BasingstokeHouse/Wilson slashA fun AU tale in which House and Wilson's first meeting is a one night stand. Five Days a Week by Milkshake ButterflyHouse/Wilson slashEssentially a series of five drabbles in which the ducklings find out that House and Wilson are together. I love how Chase is portrayed in the second one although the third is definitely my favourite and the one most in keeping with the undertone of the show. There are some brilliant lines in this and the ducklings (even Cameron!) all come off very well indeed. Very highly recommended as indeed is all of Milkshake Butterfly's work.And changing fandoms for a second to embrace my new love - Supernatural.Supernatural is one of those shows that you know objectively isn't really that good (deriative, bad writing, somewhat less than stellar acting from the boys) but you can't help loving anyway because it's so damn unpretentious, enormous fun and features pretty pretty boys. For such a new fandom there's a surprising amount of fic out there. Looks like most of my favourite Smallville writers have followed the boy Ackles to his new show! Of course the problem with Supernatural is that the pretty pretty boys do tend to lend themselves towards slash - which is a touch unfortunate as hey the characters are brothers. But if you're willing to overlook that (admittedly not insignificant fact) there is some good stuff out there:Untitled by NilchanceSam/Dean SlashThe first Sam/Dean slash story I read and still the best. Incest isn't exactly a fun topic and the stories that simply have Sam and Dean in love are a bit painful to read. This story uses the otherworldliness of the show (Dean gets infected by a succubus) to get the boys together and does it in a painful, yet almost realistic (well realistic to the tenants of the show) way.Sins of the Father by Joyfulgirl41Gen with hints of Sam/Dean (nothing remotely explicit)Very nice story written from Papa Winchester's perspective as he sees the unhealthy, possessive relationship that has grown between his boys.And to end with a Firefly rec:Khamsin by DocMichelleHints of River/SimonExtremely eerie River introspective which leaves you frightened for poor Simon.

Purple...

Purple Sneakers by RunaroundkidHouse/Wilson House/Chase/Wilson slashI've never been a huge fan of the threesome story in fanfiction. Because of their very nature the stories tend to be so far removed from any sense of reality as to be utterly absurd. There are a handful of House/Chase/Wilson fics out there most of which are ridiculous and tooth rottingly sweet. I don't exactly think that Purple Sneakers is the exception that proves the rule but it is enormously good fun. Well written and hot as hell the writer gets bonus points for a wonderfully in character House. Naturally it being a threesome story all believability and credibility goes flying out the window at the end of the story when not only does Cuddy walk in on our boys (because heaven knows if you're going to dabble in a bit of light bondage in exam room 2 you wouldn't dream of doing anything sensible like say..locking the goddamn door!) but its indicated that the entire clinic knows what the boys have been up to. However, despite the very silly ending this is one of the better House slash stories to crop up in recent months.Day and Night by NakenoHouse/Wilson House/Chase slash/bondageFron the silly to the distinctly dark this is a somber little piece which has Chase insinuating himself into the House/Wilson relationship. It's a story where noone seems to win - not Wilson and certainly not Chase. It's also one of the rare stories that is brave enough to depict House as downright unlikeable - this is certainly not the usual super fluffy take on the House/Wilson relationship. Only Human by peak_in_darienHouse/Wilson slashBrilliant story from a new author to the fandom which has House realising that Wilson has a crush on him. Wonderful dialogue and pitch perfect characterisation. I especially like the way she portrays Chase and Foreman. Very highly recommended.Windsor by BasingstokeHouse/Wilson unrequitedAn extremely well written story told from House's point of view which charts the rhythms of Wilson's relationship with his wives by the ties he wears. Complete with pretty visual aids!Heart of Oak by Alibi FactoryHouse/Wilson House/ChaseRather melancholy story told from Chase's point of view. Chase is often portrayed as having a crush on House but in this story it sems to be all consuming. Also features an intriguingly dark Wilson who is normally portrayed as somewhat akin to a fluffy puppy.And switching fandoms completely for a moment here's a Firefly recGlass Walls by AnaGen barest hints of Simon/JayneI adore Firefly, Serenity and have now met virtually the entire cast who are all the sweetest people you could ever wish to meet but I never really got into Firefly fic. I think part of the problem was that unlike House I really did struggle to buy into the slashy undertones that so many others saw with Mal/Jayne and Simon/Jayne and I don't often read gen stories. I found this story via another rec journal and have not been able to get it out of my head since.Essentially this is set prior to the events of the movie in a timeline in which Simon and Jayne have been kidnapped by the Alliance. Set almost entirely in a soulless high tech prison the story is told from Jayne's point of view as he deals with a Simon who has been driven insane by Alliance torture. Impressively the story manages to avoid the usual cliches you would associate with prison fic and the dialogue is true to the slightly hokey Western twang that Whedon uses on the show. The strongest element, however, is the characterisation of Jayne. Most authors don't know what to do with Jayne - so they dumb him down (if that's possible) and make him the butt of the joke. Here Jayne is strong, fundamentally decent guy who just doesn't always make the right choice. In fact I think I may have fallen a little in love with him in this story. My heart was also pretty much broken by the author's depiction of an utterly broken Simon. Deeply haunting.

Clocks by Cryp...

Clocks by CryptictacGen House/Wilson friendshipHouse/Wilson fanfic cliche 101 - our intrepid heroes only ever eat Chinese, Thai food or pizza - it's wonder they don't have scurvy. House despite being a well paid head of his own department lives in a tiny one bed apartment meaning that Wilson must always sleep on his sofa in times of marital difficulties. And Wilson being an oncologist will develop cancer and die - this is apparently tragically ironic!Clocks deals with the last of these cliches and it is something of a credit to the author that despite a painfully cliched plot it manages to be a moving study of grief and acceptance. I like the fact that the emotions aren't overblown - there are no huge declarations of love, no hysterical breakdowns, just an understated sense of despair that feels very very real. Need by Michelle ChristianHouse/Wilson slashMy all time favourite House fanfic story. Set after Babies and Bathwater it deals with House trying to apologise to Wilson for the Vogler debacle. Whilst essentially a first time story there is nothing fluffy about it. Distinctly angst ridden (and all the more believable for it) this features sexual activity at its least joyous - need and loneliness rather than hearts and flowers governing proceedings. The author also effortlessly switches between House and Wilson's perspective. Very highly recommended.Surcease by Corri LannamHouse/Wilson SlashSet during Detox this is a sweet strangely comforting little House/Wilson vignette which has our boys involved in an established relationship. Heartwarming without being sentimental.Unexpected Comfort by Acidic FlowerWilson/Chase SlashNot an easy pairing to write and not one I thought I would be interested in reading but this story successfully makes the notion of Chase and Wilson getting it together seem completely natural.Stumble by Ivory NovelistHouse/Wilson - author classifies it as gen - I would classify it as romance.Firstly a caveat if you are looking for pitch perfect characterisation and dialogue so true you could hear the actors speaking the words when you read....look elsewhere because this simply isn't the story for you. Let's be frank this story is something of a mess - it's cliche ridden (Wilson has a car accident (Wilson has a lot of car accidents in the world of House fanfiction), House attempts suicide), House/Wilson are painfully out of character to the extent that they appear more like excitable 13 year old girls and the story can't decide whether its gen or slash and so fails to satisfy fans of either genre. So why the hell am I recommending it? Because Stumble is the fanfic equivalent of the popcorn movie. It most definitely isn't good, but it is entertaining and if you can get past the story's many many failings it is a hugely enjoyable guilty pleasure. Read once you've exhausted everything else.

Hy...

Hydrotherapy by Michelle ChristianHouse/Wilson slashHouse/Wilson and a hot tub - what more could you want? Well how about brilliant characterisation and the sort of story that leaves you with a slight warm and fuzzy glow? Huge fun.And Lo He Has Not Fallen But Leapt by GenaHouse/Wilson friendship AUOdd one this which has Wilson as an angel coming to guide a dying post infarction House to heaven. Normally I steer well clear of AU stories but this one is clever, sweet and works the alternate reality meeting into the universe of the show very well. Pathogenesis and Intervention by ShalottHouse/Wilson slashHouse/Wlson slash set against the background of a smallpox epidimic. The medical elements are dealt with impressively and House/Wilson are as ever perfectly characterised by this talented author. Reads like a typical House episode - if it were broadcast on HBO!Under His Skin by CryptictacHouse/Wilson slashShort and very sad pwp written from Wilson's point of view which has Wilson and House involved in a physical but empty relationship. Whilst I normally love happy endings I can somehow see this take on their relationship as far more realistic than the average House/Wilson fluff fest.Recklessness and Water by Hannah R. OrloveHouse/Wilson slash (mild)Beautifully written, almost ethereal story told entirely from Wilson's point of view. Reflective, haunting and highly recommended.Sleeping Beauty by Naja MelanoleucaGen Chase centricLike the previously recommended The Quality of Mercy Sleeping Beauty is another Chase centric story dealing with the slow process of repairing House and Chase's friendship following the Vogler incident. A multi chapter story this is quite a slog but well worth sticking with. Chase is brilliantly and compellingly portrayed and his background fleshed out in a way which you know it never will be on the show. Cameron, Foreman and Wilson all come across very well and House (for the most part) remains in character - no easy feat in a story this long. There are nitpicks - the original female character grates as all OFC's invariably do - she's also far too heavily featured in the later chapters for my liking and slows the pace of the story, Chase's vernacular seems to be all over the place (if the author is indeed an Aussie I will apologise unreservedly but as it is I felt that some of the slang was out of place) and I never saw Rowan Chase as any where near as brutally cold as he is portrayed here (although that could be my love of Patrick Bachau talking). Still an enjoyable story which is recommended reading if you are a big Chase fan.Transposition by Pocky SlashWilson/Chase, Wilson/Foreman, Wilson/Cameron, Wilson/Stacy, ultimately House/WilsonLooking at the list of pairings above you could easily come to the conclusion not to touch this story with a ten foot barge pole but that would be a mistake. The pairings are unusual but as is always the case in Wilson's life all roads lead to House. Very well written and featuring a Stacy who is far more engaging and warm than the character on the show this is actually a quite moving look into Wilson's very troubled psyche.

More House re...

More House recommendations:Anything for Charity by Michelle ChristianHouse/Wilson explicit slashMichelle Christian is one of my favourite House slash writers and everything that she has written is highly recommended reading but I confess that the silly title of this story put me off reading it for some time. But it goes to show that you should never judge a book by its cover because this pwp features red hot beautifully written smut. Is it entirely believable that House would drag Wilson into a cupboard for scorchingly hot nookie whilst all his co workers are a few feet away? Possibly not but with a story this sexy who cares?Name that Tune by Miriam HeddyHouse/Wilson explicit slashName that Tune appears to be the only House story that Miriam has written - which is a crying shame as this is utterly superb. Perfectly in character and completely unsentimental this is a short, sharp and totally believable peek inside the dynamics of the House/Wilson relationship. Really quite brilliant.Blow the Candles Out by SyalHouse/Wilson SlashGod I love this story! Featuring a very unhappy Wilson on his birthday and the world's most awkward birthday party attended by House, Wilson and Julie this works on every level. Its one of the few stories that doesn't make Julie a screaming harridan and you ache for both her and Wilson as the author depicts the sad dead state of their marriage. House's dialogue is wonderful and the ending is cute and heart warming without being fluffy and unrealistic. Massive bonus points for managing to include a scene of House hugging Wilson which is completely in character and painfully realistic. Maryland by ShalottHouse/Wilson slashFirst House story I ever read and still one of my absolute favourites as a desperate House tries to work out why Wilson has decided to leave his job and move to Maryland. Beautifully written and featuring a very vulnerable House - a state of mind which few House writers seem to be able to pull off with any degree of success. The sort of story that leaves you with a huge smile on your face once you've finished reading it.Messengers by Telegram SamGenVery melancholy peek into the psyche of James Wilson. Wilson is too often portrayed as Mr Happy Go Lucky in fan fiction but in this piece Telegram Sam recognises the immense pressures facing a man who has to watch so many of is patients die. Short, haunting and very powerful.Side Effects by IsagelHouse/Wilson explicit slashAnother red hot slice of smut which also examines the unwanted side effects of House's vicodin addiction. Not too sure about the realities of some of the positioning given House's injury but such minor niggles are best overlooked when the rest of the story is as well written as this.The Quality of Mercy by KMSGen The Quality of Mercy is a lengthy well written Chase centric piece which deals with the slow process of House forgiving Chase after his actions with Vogler. Set in the second season it riffs on the events in Acceptance and includes the death of Rowan Chase.The story isn't perfect and superficially there were a number of things that grated. Having the prison Chase is sent to be called Oswald Petentiary is a little too referential for my tastes (I've never understood why writers create believable universes and then drag me out of them by referencing another fandom), a riot breaking out within moments of Chase arriving is a tad convenient, the scene on the plane where House forgives Chase has a distinctive S&M vibe to it which I'm absolutely sure the writer didn't intend and the House/Wilson relationship is portrayed in a way which can't be comfortably categorised as slash or friendship but somewhere annoyingly inbetween.All that being said this story succeeds wonderfully in one way - it made me care deeply about the character of Robert Chase in a way which the House writers and Jesse Spencer haven't succeded in doing on the show. Chase is wonderfully categorised here - he's a fully realised compelling character rather than the whiny petulant bitch we so often see on the show. Special mention should also be made of this stories impressive nods to continuity - the Arnellos, Vogler, Rowan Chase's illness - all featured and handled very well indeed.Candy Cane by Atalanta PendragonneHouse/Chase BDSMWriiten in response to a homophobic post which caused a stir over at the House fiction journal this is an incredibly naughty, very sexy slice of House/Chase. House makes one hell of a dom and the dom/sub dynamic suits the House/Chase relationship surprisingly well. If only all ridiculous posts inspired this degree of quality writing!

So I read a lot of fan fiction and whilst there are some extraordinary, wonderful, incredibly talented writers out there - there are also writers who turn out the kind of stories that make you want to bleach your eyeballs after reading them. Lousy characterisation, unlikely scenarios, dreadful spelling and grammar - I've accidentally stumbled upon far too many stories like this for my own good. So after some (heavy) cajoling from a friend I've decided to set up a recs journal. Of course everyone has their own ideas about what makes good fan fiction but I'm hoping that this journal will at least be a good starting point for anyone seeking to avoid Mary Sues, Mpreg and other fanfic atrocities! Stories featured will mostly be from House (with the occasional story thrown in from other fandoms) with a bias towards slash and gen as I don't find the het couplings on the show especially compelling.On to the recs:Defensive Strategies by Milkshake Butterfly House House/Wilson slashMay as well start with one of the very best. This is a wonderful highly amusing story which has a despondent just divorced Wilson having a sexual identity crisis prompted by the unwanted attention of a very pushy original female character. House and Wilson are perfectly characterised throughout and their voices so true you can virtually hear Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard saying the lines as you read. It's also one of the very few House stories which makes me laugh out loud each time I read it - some of the lines are just wonderful. Defensive Strategies isn't without its faults - the original female character is inevitably grating. Granted she is meant to be more plot device than character but her bunny boiler behaviour gets tiresome very quickly. The story also has an entirely unnecessary coda which dilutes the strength of the rest of the story. Still this snarky, sexy story is pretty much House fanfiction at its very best.