Entry tags:
Entry tags:
AO3 fic meme
A look at my AO3 fic stats. Most of my fic on AO3 had been transferred in from LJ and archives, so terribly misleading but still interesting…
1. Most Hits: Rituals (for winners and losers) Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy. Just BDSM porn. 34,537 hits. Porn tags get clicks. As does Harry/Draco. But less people engage with straight up porn, I find… swings and roundabouts I guess!
2. Second Most Kudos: Maybe Baby Smallville, Clex. 778 kudos. My most kudoed fic for years until recently overtaken by the latest fic I wrote, Limping. Written in the LJ/SSA days and then archived here, so most of the feedback on that was not on AO3.
3. Third Most Comments: Off the Script SPN RPS - J2. Just porn again. Probably the most popular thing I’ve ever written in terms of comments (off AO3) and awards.
4. Fourth Most Bookmarks: Limping A newer Batfam gen bat family fic. People use AO3 a lot differently now that back in the day so not surprising to see newer fic scoring highly…
5. Fifth Most Words: However you like it . SPN Wincest, only 9,090 words. I don’t write long fic… mostly just self indulgent porn!
Fannish 50 #6
1. Most Hits: Rituals (for winners and losers) Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy. Just BDSM porn. 34,537 hits. Porn tags get clicks. As does Harry/Draco. But less people engage with straight up porn, I find… swings and roundabouts I guess!
2. Second Most Kudos: Maybe Baby Smallville, Clex. 778 kudos. My most kudoed fic for years until recently overtaken by the latest fic I wrote, Limping. Written in the LJ/SSA days and then archived here, so most of the feedback on that was not on AO3.
3. Third Most Comments: Off the Script SPN RPS - J2. Just porn again. Probably the most popular thing I’ve ever written in terms of comments (off AO3) and awards.
4. Fourth Most Bookmarks: Limping A newer Batfam gen bat family fic. People use AO3 a lot differently now that back in the day so not surprising to see newer fic scoring highly…
5. Fifth Most Words: However you like it . SPN Wincest, only 9,090 words. I don’t write long fic… mostly just self indulgent porn!
Fannish 50 #6
Entry tags:
Fandom Catnip
I’ve been doing the Fanfic Reading Challenge 2025, which, while I’ve been trying to find fics to fit the categories, has made me think about all the fandoms I’ve read in in the nearly 30 years since I first read a fanfic.
I’ve got to read 100 different ships at least and 60 different fandoms. The fandom one is made more difficult by the stipulation you can only read a maximum of three fandoms that start with each letter of the alphabet for this challenge. How many fandoms have I read in that start with S? Dozens. How many that start with a K? Or a V? Or an E? *crickets*
Could you do it?
Anyway, while reflecting on fandoms I have loved, I’ve thought again about how the bullet proof trope that I adore is a power imbalance. That, more than anything, will suck me into a fandom. The power imbalance can be structural - like boss, master, King, etc - physical power imbalance or an emotional imbalance - the lover and the loved - but I’m nearly always here for it.
What’s your fandom catnip?
Fannish 50 #5
I’ve got to read 100 different ships at least and 60 different fandoms. The fandom one is made more difficult by the stipulation you can only read a maximum of three fandoms that start with each letter of the alphabet for this challenge. How many fandoms have I read in that start with S? Dozens. How many that start with a K? Or a V? Or an E? *crickets*
Could you do it?
Anyway, while reflecting on fandoms I have loved, I’ve thought again about how the bullet proof trope that I adore is a power imbalance. That, more than anything, will suck me into a fandom. The power imbalance can be structural - like boss, master, King, etc - physical power imbalance or an emotional imbalance - the lover and the loved - but I’m nearly always here for it.
What’s your fandom catnip?
Fannish 50 #5
Entry tags:
Loki!
This very day I shall be in the same (very large) room as Tom Hiddleston as I’m going to see him and Hayley Atwell in Much Ado About Nothing, which I’ve very much been looking forward to.
One of the advantages of living near a big city (in my case, London) is the opportunity to experience a big ‘cultural hub’. So I’ve been lucky enough to see quite a few of my fannish favourites live and in person at the theatre. Here’s a list off the top of my head:
Loki and Agent Carter - Much Ado About Nothing
Ripley - The Tempest
Draco Malfoy - 2:22 A Ghost Story
Sherlock and Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller) - Frankenstein
Professor X v1.0 (Patrick Stewart) - Waiting for Godot
Professor X v2.0 (James Macavoy) - Macbeth
The Doctor (David Tennant) - The Good Man
The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Mr Robot (Christian Slater) - Swimming with Sharks
Dumbledore v3.0 (Jude Law) - Dr Faustus
James Bond v4.0 (Timothy Dalton) - His Dark Materials
and my absolute favourite
Obi-Wan Kenobi v2.0 (Ewan MacGregor) - Guys and Dolls
Who have you seen and who would be your dream to see?
Fannish 50: #4
One of the advantages of living near a big city (in my case, London) is the opportunity to experience a big ‘cultural hub’. So I’ve been lucky enough to see quite a few of my fannish favourites live and in person at the theatre. Here’s a list off the top of my head:
Loki and Agent Carter - Much Ado About Nothing
Ripley - The Tempest
Draco Malfoy - 2:22 A Ghost Story
Sherlock and Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller) - Frankenstein
Professor X v1.0 (Patrick Stewart) - Waiting for Godot
Professor X v2.0 (James Macavoy) - Macbeth
The Doctor (David Tennant) - The Good Man
The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Mr Robot (Christian Slater) - Swimming with Sharks
Dumbledore v3.0 (Jude Law) - Dr Faustus
James Bond v4.0 (Timothy Dalton) - His Dark Materials
and my absolute favourite
Obi-Wan Kenobi v2.0 (Ewan MacGregor) - Guys and Dolls
Who have you seen and who would be your dream to see?
Fannish 50: #4
Entry tags:
Rec: Batman (DC): A calculated risk, by thegrayson
Fandom: Batman
Pairings/Characters: Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson
Rating: Explicit
Length: 14,349 words
Creator Links: thegrayson at AO3
Theme: (Not really) Unrequited Love
Summary:
It had been almost two months since Bruce had last seen Dick, both of them busy in their respective cities, when a wide-scale threat has the Justice League calling for reinforcements. It wouldn't be accurate to say that Bruce was grateful to the mind-controlling aliens threatening civilians, but he wasn't ungrateful either.
In which Bruce pines, dreams, and takes a chance.
Reccer’s Notes: This pairing is often problematic; angsty or even downright dark. Not this fic! It leans in to them as partners, the original dynamic duo, and Bruce Wayne as the awkward human being he is, and sometimes as a reader you just want nice things, right?
Fanwork links: A calculated risk
Fannish 50: #3
Pairings/Characters: Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson
Rating: Explicit
Length: 14,349 words
Creator Links: thegrayson at AO3
Theme: (Not really) Unrequited Love
Summary:
It had been almost two months since Bruce had last seen Dick, both of them busy in their respective cities, when a wide-scale threat has the Justice League calling for reinforcements. It wouldn't be accurate to say that Bruce was grateful to the mind-controlling aliens threatening civilians, but he wasn't ungrateful either.
In which Bruce pines, dreams, and takes a chance.
Reccer’s Notes: This pairing is often problematic; angsty or even downright dark. Not this fic! It leans in to them as partners, the original dynamic duo, and Bruce Wayne as the awkward human being he is, and sometimes as a reader you just want nice things, right?
Fanwork links: A calculated risk
Fannish 50: #3
Entry tags:
Fandom engagement
The article The Endless Appetite for Fanfiction by by Elizabeth Minkel on fansplaining.com was linked by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amalthia and was very interesting. Very much mirrors my experience of fandom.
Without doubt, the best time I had in fandom was in the LJ days, where fanfic and fandom were together, but in fairness AO3 is a much better reader experience and fanfic repository than lj ever was, but as the author argues it makes it a pure reading experience rather than an engagement with a fandom.
Not sure that’s ever going to get better, however, in the spirit of ‘being the change you want to see in the world’ my New Years resolution is to comment on any fic I like enough to bookmark, and kudos any fic I like at all. I could do better, I know, but NY resolutions are all about achievable goals, right?
I’m doing https://www.tumblr.com/fanfic-reading-challenge (again, if you like reading fanfic, enjoy spreadsheets and feel a great sense of satisfaction in ticking items off a to do list you should give it a try, it’s great) and one of the comment tasks was to comment on at least 10 chapters of a 20 chapter or more fic and I rather enjoyed doing that. I don’t believe I’ve ever commented more than once on a fic before and it was rather fun - I’ll definitely do it again!
And finally every time I rec a fic, I’ll drop a comment to the author saying I did so; that’s always nice to hear, right!
Fannish 50: #2
amalthia and was very interesting. Very much mirrors my experience of fandom.Without doubt, the best time I had in fandom was in the LJ days, where fanfic and fandom were together, but in fairness AO3 is a much better reader experience and fanfic repository than lj ever was, but as the author argues it makes it a pure reading experience rather than an engagement with a fandom.
Not sure that’s ever going to get better, however, in the spirit of ‘being the change you want to see in the world’ my New Years resolution is to comment on any fic I like enough to bookmark, and kudos any fic I like at all. I could do better, I know, but NY resolutions are all about achievable goals, right?
I’m doing https://www.tumblr.com/fanfic-reading-challenge (again, if you like reading fanfic, enjoy spreadsheets and feel a great sense of satisfaction in ticking items off a to do list you should give it a try, it’s great) and one of the comment tasks was to comment on at least 10 chapters of a 20 chapter or more fic and I rather enjoyed doing that. I don’t believe I’ve ever commented more than once on a fic before and it was rather fun - I’ll definitely do it again!
And finally every time I rec a fic, I’ll drop a comment to the author saying I did so; that’s always nice to hear, right!
Fannish 50: #2
Entry tags:
Rec: X-Men: Lucid Dreaming by Listerinezero
Fandom: X-Men
Pairings/Characters: Erik Lensherr/Charles Xavier
Rating: Mature
Length: 28,567 words
Creator Links: Listerinezero at AO3
Theme: (Not really) Unrequited Love, Time-travel fix-it
Summary:
Magneto finds himself in 1962, on the morning they go to Cuba, in the bed of the young Charles who'd spent months letting him think they were in love before breaking his heart. But he is not the same man he was forty years earlier, and as he gets to know young Charles again, he discovers that things might not have been exactly the way he remembered them after all.
Reccer’s Notes: Lovely take on an older Magneto finding his perceptions of what happened before being challenged. Magneto and Professor X are the poster children for this theme as they continually just miss and challenge each other. This fic portrays them beautifully.
Fanwork links: Lucid Dreaming
Fannish 50: #1
Pairings/Characters: Erik Lensherr/Charles Xavier
Rating: Mature
Length: 28,567 words
Creator Links: Listerinezero at AO3
Theme: (Not really) Unrequited Love, Time-travel fix-it
Summary:
Magneto finds himself in 1962, on the morning they go to Cuba, in the bed of the young Charles who'd spent months letting him think they were in love before breaking his heart. But he is not the same man he was forty years earlier, and as he gets to know young Charles again, he discovers that things might not have been exactly the way he remembered them after all.
Reccer’s Notes: Lovely take on an older Magneto finding his perceptions of what happened before being challenged. Magneto and Professor X are the poster children for this theme as they continually just miss and challenge each other. This fic portrays them beautifully.
Fanwork links: Lucid Dreaming
Fannish 50: #1
Entry tags:
Being Fannish - Extreme Version!
I have signed up for three (3) year long fannish challenges for 2025 and am rather excited.
Blogging (mentioned before)
I have signed up for Fannish 50 on![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
goals_on_dw so will post 50 fannish things in the next year. They will be fanfic recs because I love reccing, and I’ll certainly be reccing on fancake, so two birds one stone. 😁
One post a week more or less seems doable…
https://goals-on-dw.dreamwidth.org/4343.html
Writing
I’ve signed up forgetyourwordsout. The lowest habit challenge (rather than word-based) where I’m looking to write on 120 days over the year. 10 a month is challenging, but I’m good at planning so fingers crossed.
Reading
I’m going to do https://www.tumblr.com/fanfic-reading-challenge which I am loving the look of because I love a good spreadsheet! Looks a bit intimidating, but it’s actually very low pressure; no sign ups, no obligations. And I certainly will be reading fanfic next year, so a participant badge at least is in the bag! 😉
Roll on 2025!
Blogging (mentioned before)
I have signed up for Fannish 50 on
goals_on_dw so will post 50 fannish things in the next year. They will be fanfic recs because I love reccing, and I’ll certainly be reccing on fancake, so two birds one stone. 😁One post a week more or less seems doable…
https://goals-on-dw.dreamwidth.org/4343.html
Writing
I’ve signed up for
getyourwordsout. The lowest habit challenge (rather than word-based) where I’m looking to write on 120 days over the year. 10 a month is challenging, but I’m good at planning so fingers crossed.Reading
I’m going to do https://www.tumblr.com/fanfic-reading-challenge which I am loving the look of because I love a good spreadsheet! Looks a bit intimidating, but it’s actually very low pressure; no sign ups, no obligations. And I certainly will be reading fanfic next year, so a participant badge at least is in the bag! 😉
Roll on 2025!
Entry tags:
Being fannish
I have signed up for Fannish 50 on goals_on_dw so will post 50 fannish things in the next year. They will be fanfic recs because I love reccing, and I’ll certainly be reccing on fancake, so two birds one stone. 😁
One post a week more or less seems doable…
https://goals-on-dw.dreamwidth.org/4343.html
goals_on_dw so will post 50 fannish things in the next year. They will be fanfic recs because I love reccing, and I’ll certainly be reccing on fancake, so two birds one stone. 😁One post a week more or less seems doable…
https://goals-on-dw.dreamwidth.org/4343.html
Recs: Bandom reread
Rec: Bandom: The Risen by Adellyna
Fandom: Bandom
Pairings/Characters: Jon/Spencer, Frank/Gerard, minor Tom/Butcher, various other bandomy folks
Rating: R
Length: 22,000 words
Creator Links: Adellyna at LJ
Theme: AU, Zombies
Summary:
AU. They all work on a cruise ship. Shit starts to get bloody after a shore excursion brings something unnatural on board.
Reccer’s Notes: The people of Bandom work on a cruise ship and then… zombies. Lovely characterisations and storytelling.
Content Notes: Character death.
Fanwork links: The Risen
***
Rec: Bandom: Our Comedies are not to be Laughed At by Adellyna and Maleyka
Fandom: Bandom
Pairings/Characters: Bob/Spencer, Frank/Gerard, Pete/Mikey, Pete/Patrick, Greta/Jon, William/Travis, Ryan/Keltie, Jon/Tomrad (if you squint)
Rating: NC17
Length: 30,000 words
Creator Links: Adellyna at LJ and Maleyka at LJ
Theme: AU, Film school
Summary:
AU. Bands? What bands? Everyone's in film school!
Reccer’s Notes: Just an awful lot of fun here. A well-told story with lovely characterisations and interactions. I particularly like the Spencer/Bob and Spencer & Ryan; very sweet. Enjoy some light-hearted pleasure.
Fanwork links: Our Comedies are not to be Laughed At
***
Rec: Bandom: An Inexplicable Occurrence of Angels by stele3
Fandom: Bandom; MCR
Pairings/Characters: MCR, Frank/Gerard
Rating: Teen
Length: 35,000 words
Creator Links: stele3 at AO3
Theme: AU, Canon Divergence, Angels
Summary:
Wing!fic; angel!fic; yes I wrote Frank Iero as a fallen angel; WHAT OF IT I REGRET NOTHING
Reccer’s Notes: After a Frank-less MCR doesn’t work out, Gerard and Mikey get a small, tattooed angel dropped on their doorstep. Surprise! A very unusual premise and lovely writing.
Fanwork links: An Inexplicable Occurrence of Angels
***
Rec: Bandom: Forever, Now series by harriet_vane
Fandom: Bandom; MCR and P!atD
Pairings/Characters: Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Ryan Ross/Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith/Jon Walker, Brian Schechter/Greta Salpeter by the end of the series.
Rating: Teen
Length: 227,100 words in the 7 work series
Creator Links: harriet_vane at AO3
Theme: AU, Kid!fic
Summary:
Kidfic! Brian rescues kid!Gerard and Mikey from life on the streets, and eventually everyone finds a family.
Reccer’s Notes: Absolutely epic. Warm, funny, exciting, with great dialogue and completely convincing characters. Growing up is hard; helps when people love you, though.
Fanwork links: Forever, Now series
***
Rec: Bandom: Unholy verse by Bexless
Fandom: Bandom; MCR
Pairings/Characters: Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Ray Toro/Mikey Way, Bob Bryan/Brian Schechter
Rating: Explicit
Length: 186,764 in the series
Creator Links: Bexless at AO3
Theme: AU, Religion, Demons, abuse references
Summary:
“He thinks I have stigmata,” Frank said, because what the fucking hell, it couldn’t get any worse. He might as well just lay it out.
“Oh, well,” said Brian into his hands. “Of course.”
Reccer’s Notes: A totally unique fic. The storytelling is compelling from start to finish. Gerard as a priest, Frank suffering from stigmata and the supernatural challenges they face are so well written. The continued series after the first fic I have been all things unholy is an incredibly satisfying read.
Fanwork links: Unholyverse series
***
Fandom: Bandom
Pairings/Characters: Jon/Spencer, Frank/Gerard, minor Tom/Butcher, various other bandomy folks
Rating: R
Length: 22,000 words
Creator Links: Adellyna at LJ
Theme: AU, Zombies
Summary:
AU. They all work on a cruise ship. Shit starts to get bloody after a shore excursion brings something unnatural on board.
Reccer’s Notes: The people of Bandom work on a cruise ship and then… zombies. Lovely characterisations and storytelling.
Content Notes: Character death.
Fanwork links: The Risen
***
Rec: Bandom: Our Comedies are not to be Laughed At by Adellyna and Maleyka
Fandom: Bandom
Pairings/Characters: Bob/Spencer, Frank/Gerard, Pete/Mikey, Pete/Patrick, Greta/Jon, William/Travis, Ryan/Keltie, Jon/Tomrad (if you squint)
Rating: NC17
Length: 30,000 words
Creator Links: Adellyna at LJ and Maleyka at LJ
Theme: AU, Film school
Summary:
AU. Bands? What bands? Everyone's in film school!
Reccer’s Notes: Just an awful lot of fun here. A well-told story with lovely characterisations and interactions. I particularly like the Spencer/Bob and Spencer & Ryan; very sweet. Enjoy some light-hearted pleasure.
Fanwork links: Our Comedies are not to be Laughed At
***
Rec: Bandom: An Inexplicable Occurrence of Angels by stele3
Fandom: Bandom; MCR
Pairings/Characters: MCR, Frank/Gerard
Rating: Teen
Length: 35,000 words
Creator Links: stele3 at AO3
Theme: AU, Canon Divergence, Angels
Summary:
Wing!fic; angel!fic; yes I wrote Frank Iero as a fallen angel; WHAT OF IT I REGRET NOTHING
Reccer’s Notes: After a Frank-less MCR doesn’t work out, Gerard and Mikey get a small, tattooed angel dropped on their doorstep. Surprise! A very unusual premise and lovely writing.
Fanwork links: An Inexplicable Occurrence of Angels
***
Rec: Bandom: Forever, Now series by harriet_vane
Fandom: Bandom; MCR and P!atD
Pairings/Characters: Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Ryan Ross/Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith/Jon Walker, Brian Schechter/Greta Salpeter by the end of the series.
Rating: Teen
Length: 227,100 words in the 7 work series
Creator Links: harriet_vane at AO3
Theme: AU, Kid!fic
Summary:
Kidfic! Brian rescues kid!Gerard and Mikey from life on the streets, and eventually everyone finds a family.
Reccer’s Notes: Absolutely epic. Warm, funny, exciting, with great dialogue and completely convincing characters. Growing up is hard; helps when people love you, though.
Fanwork links: Forever, Now series
***
Rec: Bandom: Unholy verse by Bexless
Fandom: Bandom; MCR
Pairings/Characters: Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Ray Toro/Mikey Way, Bob Bryan/Brian Schechter
Rating: Explicit
Length: 186,764 in the series
Creator Links: Bexless at AO3
Theme: AU, Religion, Demons, abuse references
Summary:
“He thinks I have stigmata,” Frank said, because what the fucking hell, it couldn’t get any worse. He might as well just lay it out.
“Oh, well,” said Brian into his hands. “Of course.”
Reccer’s Notes: A totally unique fic. The storytelling is compelling from start to finish. Gerard as a priest, Frank suffering from stigmata and the supernatural challenges they face are so well written. The continued series after the first fic I have been all things unholy is an incredibly satisfying read.
Fanwork links: Unholyverse series
***
Entry tags:
Recs: Smallville reread
Rec: Smallville: Aphrodisia by Lenore
Fandom: Smallville
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lex
Rating: Explicit
Length: 6,186 words
Creator Links: Lenore at AO3
Theme: Sex pollen
Summary:
Clark can’t eat saffron.
Reccer’s Notes: Short and spicy (see what I did there). Clark’s alien physiology acts up after he eats saffron. Lex through Clark’s eyes is very sexy, and they stay nicely in character.
Fanwork links: Aphrodisia
***
Rec: Smallville: Mercy by Koi
Fandom: Smallville
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lex
Rating: Explicit
Length: 26,546 words
Creator Links: None
Theme: Dark
Summary:
What is truth?
Reccer’s Notes: This is a dark fic where Lionel Luther persuades Lex that Clark is an alien threat and that justifies them capturing, torturing and using Clark. This fic is through Lex’s eyes and his tormented point of view is incredibly compelling.
Fanwork links: Mercy
****
Fandom: Smallville
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lex
Rating: Explicit
Length: 6,186 words
Creator Links: Lenore at AO3
Theme: Sex pollen
Summary:
Clark can’t eat saffron.
Reccer’s Notes: Short and spicy (see what I did there). Clark’s alien physiology acts up after he eats saffron. Lex through Clark’s eyes is very sexy, and they stay nicely in character.
Fanwork links: Aphrodisia
***
Rec: Smallville: Mercy by Koi
Fandom: Smallville
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lex
Rating: Explicit
Length: 26,546 words
Creator Links: None
Theme: Dark
Summary:
What is truth?
Reccer’s Notes: This is a dark fic where Lionel Luther persuades Lex that Clark is an alien threat and that justifies them capturing, torturing and using Clark. This fic is through Lex’s eyes and his tormented point of view is incredibly compelling.
Fanwork links: Mercy
****
Recs: Inception rereads
Rec: Inception: We can do this until we pass out by delires
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 28,478 words (series 49,299)
Creator Links: Delires at AO3
Theme: AU, Class issues
Summary:
Disturbing London, baby, we about to branch out. (The one where Eames is a chav)
Reccer’s Notes: An AU where canonical Arthur and Dom meet chav!Eames in London pre-canon. Arthur has a one night stand with Eames, which against his better judgement develops into something else. This is a wonderful fic, sexy, funny, clever, and while changing a few fundamentals still keeps them in character and the plot leading up to inception perfectly believable. The Arthur/Eames fandom burned hot but short, but during that time there were great authors in the fandom and some brilliant fics. This is one of them.
Fanwork links: We can do this until we pass out (The Chav!Verse)
***
Rec: Inception: Simple Maths by foxxcub
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 45,684 words
Creator Links: Foxxcub at AO3
Theme: AU, High school AU, fake dating
Summary:
“So," Eames says slowly, leaning back against the school wall as he idly taps his cigarette. "We've got a problem here."
or, The Fake Boyfriend High School AU
Reccer’s Notes: The clash between Eames and Arthur’s personalities is one of the reasons why this fandom worked so well, and therefore the High School AU is perfect for this fandom because of the varied cliques in High School. The staple in this fandom of Arthur’s reluctance is delightfully done here.
Fanwork links: Simple Math
***
Rec: Inception: Pants on Fire by Helenish
Fandom:I Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 15,169 words
Creator Links: Helenish at AO3
Theme: Amnesia, trope inversion
Summary:
“Ah," Yusuf says, lifting a reproving hand, "are we calling less than 24 hours of memory loss amnesia now?"
Reccer’s Notes: An absolute classic in this fandom. Arthur experiences memory loss coming out of a dream and forgets the past few years. He has to piece together his life, and some of his conclusions are right, and some… are not. To say too much would be spoilery, but I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Fanwork links: Pants on Fire
***
Rec: Inception: I bet Nureyev never had to deal with this shit by cobweb_diamond
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Teen
Length: 21,409 words
Creator Links: cobweb_diamond at AO3
Theme: AU, ballet
Summary:
Modern-day AU. Arthur is a ballet dancer recovering from a serious injury, and is lucky enough to land the role of Oberon in Dom Cobb's reimagining of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Reccer’s Notes: A lovely AU with Arthur, Eames and Mal are dancers in Dom’s ballet production. Their developing relationship is a delight.
Fanwork links: I bet Nureyev never had to deal with this shit.
***
Rec: Inception: Towards Zero by Mirabella
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: NC17
Length: 10,000-15,000 words
Creator Links: Mirabella fic at dreamwidth
Theme: First meet, first time
Summary:
Five levels down, and five to dig yourself back out. Arthur met Eames' projection long before he met Eames.
Reccer’s Notes: Arthur meets Eames in stages. The A/E fic I sought out to reread coming back to fandom after 10 years. An all-time favorite.
Fanwork links: Towards Zero
***
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 28,478 words (series 49,299)
Creator Links: Delires at AO3
Theme: AU, Class issues
Summary:
Disturbing London, baby, we about to branch out. (The one where Eames is a chav)
Reccer’s Notes: An AU where canonical Arthur and Dom meet chav!Eames in London pre-canon. Arthur has a one night stand with Eames, which against his better judgement develops into something else. This is a wonderful fic, sexy, funny, clever, and while changing a few fundamentals still keeps them in character and the plot leading up to inception perfectly believable. The Arthur/Eames fandom burned hot but short, but during that time there were great authors in the fandom and some brilliant fics. This is one of them.
Fanwork links: We can do this until we pass out (The Chav!Verse)
***
Rec: Inception: Simple Maths by foxxcub
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 45,684 words
Creator Links: Foxxcub at AO3
Theme: AU, High school AU, fake dating
Summary:
“So," Eames says slowly, leaning back against the school wall as he idly taps his cigarette. "We've got a problem here."
or, The Fake Boyfriend High School AU
Reccer’s Notes: The clash between Eames and Arthur’s personalities is one of the reasons why this fandom worked so well, and therefore the High School AU is perfect for this fandom because of the varied cliques in High School. The staple in this fandom of Arthur’s reluctance is delightfully done here.
Fanwork links: Simple Math
***
Rec: Inception: Pants on Fire by Helenish
Fandom:I Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Explicit
Length: 15,169 words
Creator Links: Helenish at AO3
Theme: Amnesia, trope inversion
Summary:
“Ah," Yusuf says, lifting a reproving hand, "are we calling less than 24 hours of memory loss amnesia now?"
Reccer’s Notes: An absolute classic in this fandom. Arthur experiences memory loss coming out of a dream and forgets the past few years. He has to piece together his life, and some of his conclusions are right, and some… are not. To say too much would be spoilery, but I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Fanwork links: Pants on Fire
***
Rec: Inception: I bet Nureyev never had to deal with this shit by cobweb_diamond
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: Teen
Length: 21,409 words
Creator Links: cobweb_diamond at AO3
Theme: AU, ballet
Summary:
Modern-day AU. Arthur is a ballet dancer recovering from a serious injury, and is lucky enough to land the role of Oberon in Dom Cobb's reimagining of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Reccer’s Notes: A lovely AU with Arthur, Eames and Mal are dancers in Dom’s ballet production. Their developing relationship is a delight.
Fanwork links: I bet Nureyev never had to deal with this shit.
***
Rec: Inception: Towards Zero by Mirabella
Fandom: Inception
Pairings/Characters: Arthur/Eames
Rating: NC17
Length: 10,000-15,000 words
Creator Links: Mirabella fic at dreamwidth
Theme: First meet, first time
Summary:
Five levels down, and five to dig yourself back out. Arthur met Eames' projection long before he met Eames.
Reccer’s Notes: Arthur meets Eames in stages. The A/E fic I sought out to reread coming back to fandom after 10 years. An all-time favorite.
Fanwork links: Towards Zero
***
Rec: DCU/Batman: Little Bird by Icannotthinkofapenname
Fandom: DCU/Batman
Pairings/Characters: Dick Grayson & Slade Wilson, Dick Grayson & Batman members
Rating: Teen
Length: 25,206 words
Creator Links: Icannotthinkofapenname at AO3
Theme: Magic, De-aging
Summary:
Slade finds a young, frightened, amnesiac five-year old Dick Grayson, and decides it's time to be a father again.
. . .
Little Dick does not have amnesia...but it feels kinda late to admit that now...
. . .
Meanwhile, the rest of the Batfam wanna know where their big brother is?!
Reccer’s Notes: An extremely fun fic, where everyone loves Dick Grayson (as indeed they should). This fic is lighthearted and mostly free of the angst and violence that is in the majority of Slade fics, which makes a nice change. This one should make you smile; I very much enjoy both Slade and the Batbros’ interactions with mini-Dick.
Fanwork links: Little Bird
Pairings/Characters: Dick Grayson & Slade Wilson, Dick Grayson & Batman members
Rating: Teen
Length: 25,206 words
Creator Links: Icannotthinkofapenname at AO3
Theme: Magic, De-aging
Summary:
Slade finds a young, frightened, amnesiac five-year old Dick Grayson, and decides it's time to be a father again.
. . .
Little Dick does not have amnesia...but it feels kinda late to admit that now...
. . .
Meanwhile, the rest of the Batfam wanna know where their big brother is?!
Reccer’s Notes: An extremely fun fic, where everyone loves Dick Grayson (as indeed they should). This fic is lighthearted and mostly free of the angst and violence that is in the majority of Slade fics, which makes a nice change. This one should make you smile; I very much enjoy both Slade and the Batbros’ interactions with mini-Dick.
Fanwork links: Little Bird
REC:SPN: The Time Dean was Sam's Girlfriend and Jess Entered the Winchester Family Business by flesh
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairings/Characters: Sam/Dean, Sam/Jess
Rating: Teen
Length: 11,000 words
Creator Links: Flesh at AO3 (Limited fics there) and Fleshflutter at Livejournal
Theme: Magic, Bodyswap, Genderswap, preseries
Summary: The title kind of says it all. I couldn't make up my mind whether to write bodyswap or genderswitch so I wrote both. And I can't believe there aren't a million and one fics about the effects of Dean and Jess sharing a birthday!
Reccer’s Notes: Fleshflutter’s wonderful comic voice very much in evidence here, and she makes Jess an appealing, rounded character while giving us the Sam and Dean we already know so well. A delightfully lighthearted and just plain fun fic.
Fanwork links: The Time Dean was Sam's Girlfriend and Jess Entered the Winchester Family Business
Pairings/Characters: Sam/Dean, Sam/Jess
Rating: Teen
Length: 11,000 words
Creator Links: Flesh at AO3 (Limited fics there) and Fleshflutter at Livejournal
Theme: Magic, Bodyswap, Genderswap, preseries
Summary: The title kind of says it all. I couldn't make up my mind whether to write bodyswap or genderswitch so I wrote both. And I can't believe there aren't a million and one fics about the effects of Dean and Jess sharing a birthday!
Reccer’s Notes: Fleshflutter’s wonderful comic voice very much in evidence here, and she makes Jess an appealing, rounded character while giving us the Sam and Dean we already know so well. A delightfully lighthearted and just plain fun fic.
Fanwork links: The Time Dean was Sam's Girlfriend and Jess Entered the Winchester Family Business
Rec: DCU/Batman: reset by Valkirin
Fandom: DCU/Batman
Pairings/Characters: Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, AlfredPennyworth & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Jason Blood
Rating: Teen
Length: 40,000 words
Creator Links: Valkirin at AO3
Theme: Magic, Amnesia
Summary: Black Mask hires Circe to keep Red Hood out of his way for a week. Circe's spell will only last a week and she doesn't think Batman will notice or care that she placed a time-limited memory spell on a minor criminal.
Fifteen-year-old Jason Todd wakes up in a future he doesn't understand.
Reccer’s Notes: Young Jason is an absolute delight here. He continually refers to Bruce as his Dad and Dick as his big brother in his head, and it tugs my heartstrings the way it clearly tugs their’s. Through Jason’s perspective we get a good look at ‘good parent Bruce Wayne’ from before Jason’s death, and how Jason needs to reconcile everything when he gets his memory back is very insightful too. A lovely read.
Fanwork links: reset
Pairings/Characters: Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, AlfredPennyworth & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Jason Blood
Rating: Teen
Length: 40,000 words
Creator Links: Valkirin at AO3
Theme: Magic, Amnesia
Summary: Black Mask hires Circe to keep Red Hood out of his way for a week. Circe's spell will only last a week and she doesn't think Batman will notice or care that she placed a time-limited memory spell on a minor criminal.
Fifteen-year-old Jason Todd wakes up in a future he doesn't understand.
Reccer’s Notes: Young Jason is an absolute delight here. He continually refers to Bruce as his Dad and Dick as his big brother in his head, and it tugs my heartstrings the way it clearly tugs their’s. Through Jason’s perspective we get a good look at ‘good parent Bruce Wayne’ from before Jason’s death, and how Jason needs to reconcile everything when he gets his memory back is very insightful too. A lovely read.
Fanwork links: reset
Entry tags:
Rec: Generation Kill: The Latent Bonding of Devil Dogs at War by Luxover
Fandom: Generation Kill
Pairings/Characters: Brad/Ray
Rating: Mature
Length: 54,000 words
Creator Links: Luxover at AO3
Theme: Soulmates
Summary: “You should be so lucky,” Brad says, and he watches Ray tighten his grip on the steering wheel before looking back out the window. “Nothing worse than getting tied to one person and having no say in who you have to fuck for the rest of your life.”
“Oh, yeah, Reporter,” Ray says, as if this is only now occurring to him, “Brad only likes prostitutes. Write that down.”
In which Brad winds up bonded to Ray, and isn't exactly happy with the situation.
Reccer’s Notes: Nate was my favourite character in Generation Kill, so mainly I read Nate/Brad. However, there were two Brad/Ray fics that are too good not to rec, and this is one.
Brad’s canonical dislike of monogamous relationships collides with the soulmate au trope and is not at all happy about it. The character voices are excellent here; completely convincing.
Content Notes: This work is locked on AO3, so you’ll need an account to access.
Fanwork links: The Latent Bonding of Devil Dogs at War
Pairings/Characters: Brad/Ray
Rating: Mature
Length: 54,000 words
Creator Links: Luxover at AO3
Theme: Soulmates
Summary: “You should be so lucky,” Brad says, and he watches Ray tighten his grip on the steering wheel before looking back out the window. “Nothing worse than getting tied to one person and having no say in who you have to fuck for the rest of your life.”
“Oh, yeah, Reporter,” Ray says, as if this is only now occurring to him, “Brad only likes prostitutes. Write that down.”
In which Brad winds up bonded to Ray, and isn't exactly happy with the situation.
Reccer’s Notes: Nate was my favourite character in Generation Kill, so mainly I read Nate/Brad. However, there were two Brad/Ray fics that are too good not to rec, and this is one.
Brad’s canonical dislike of monogamous relationships collides with the soulmate au trope and is not at all happy about it. The character voices are excellent here; completely convincing.
Content Notes: This work is locked on AO3, so you’ll need an account to access.
Fanwork links: The Latent Bonding of Devil Dogs at War
Rec: Batman (Nolan movies): Stiffen the Sinews (Summon Up the Blood), by Whisky (whisky runner)
Fandom: Batman
Pairings/Characters: Bane (DCU)/John Blake (DCU)
Rating: Explicit
Length: 80,666 words
Creator Links: Whisky (whiskyrunner) at AO3
Theme: Complete AU, Prison
Summary: There are only men in the pit, and John's not strong enough to protect himself forever. But Bane is strong enough for both of them.
Reccer’s Notes: This is an AU where John is imprisoned in the pit with Bane, Talia and her mother. A rather harrowing but compelling read, with extremely convincing characterisation of all the characters. I reread this again immediately after finishing because it is just excellent work. Due to the complete AU nature of the fic, you don’t need canon knowledge at all.
Content Notes: As the author says, “This is not the happiest of stories.” It contains explicit non-con, violence, abuse (including reference to child abuse), and death.
Fanwork links: Stiffen the Sinews (Summon Up the Blood)
Pairings/Characters: Bane (DCU)/John Blake (DCU)
Rating: Explicit
Length: 80,666 words
Creator Links: Whisky (whiskyrunner) at AO3
Theme: Complete AU, Prison
Summary: There are only men in the pit, and John's not strong enough to protect himself forever. But Bane is strong enough for both of them.
Reccer’s Notes: This is an AU where John is imprisoned in the pit with Bane, Talia and her mother. A rather harrowing but compelling read, with extremely convincing characterisation of all the characters. I reread this again immediately after finishing because it is just excellent work. Due to the complete AU nature of the fic, you don’t need canon knowledge at all.
Content Notes: As the author says, “This is not the happiest of stories.” It contains explicit non-con, violence, abuse (including reference to child abuse), and death.
Fanwork links: Stiffen the Sinews (Summon Up the Blood)
Rec: Star Wars: Standard Operating Procedures by galateaGalvanized
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Pairings/Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Cody
Rating: General
Length: 7,743 words
Creator Links: galateaGalvanized at AO3
Theme: Magic
Summary: “Sir, I need you to tell me what’s wrong,” Cody says, battlefield calm, and he can’t help his relief when Obi-Wan pulls the tattered remains of his usual dignity back over his shoulders.
“Right,” Obi-Wan says. “Of course. Commander, as far as I can tell, everyone besides you on this ship has fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with me.”
Reccer’s Notes: Delightfully fun take on the old sex-pollen trope where all clones of the 212th are magically enamored of General Kenobi. Except Cody - why could that be, I wonder?!
Fanwork links: Standard Operating Procedures
Pairings/Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Cody
Rating: General
Length: 7,743 words
Creator Links: galateaGalvanized at AO3
Theme: Magic
Summary: “Sir, I need you to tell me what’s wrong,” Cody says, battlefield calm, and he can’t help his relief when Obi-Wan pulls the tattered remains of his usual dignity back over his shoulders.
“Right,” Obi-Wan says. “Of course. Commander, as far as I can tell, everyone besides you on this ship has fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with me.”
Reccer’s Notes: Delightfully fun take on the old sex-pollen trope where all clones of the 212th are magically enamored of General Kenobi. Except Cody - why could that be, I wonder?!
Fanwork links: Standard Operating Procedures
Rec: due South: About a Dog by Speranza
Fandom: due South
Pairings/Characters: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski , Diefenbaker
Rating: Explicit
Length: 20,414 words
Creator Links: Speranza at AO3
Theme: Magic, Animal transformation
Summary: Dief made a face, his nose crinkling in almost comic distaste. "Terrible. Human. Body," Dief insisted, signing the words decisively. "No coat, and two legs put you off-balance, never mind how you're forced to expose your—"
Fraser felt his eyebrows shoot into his hairline.
"—to everyone, which is really not smart, if you ask me," Dief concluded.
Reccer’s Notes: Dief is turned into a human by a witch on a case. He has to learn to use opposable thumbs, but arguably Fraser learns something more important…
Speranza’s works are classics in this fandom, and her grasp of the characters’ voices, innovative plots and excellent storytelling will show you why. This has lovely trope inversion - as unlike most animal transformation fics it’s an animal character to a human not the other way around - and is more than twenty years old. A real classic, indeed, but absolutely worth a re-read…
Fanwork links: About a Dog
Pairings/Characters: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski , Diefenbaker
Rating: Explicit
Length: 20,414 words
Creator Links: Speranza at AO3
Theme: Magic, Animal transformation
Summary: Dief made a face, his nose crinkling in almost comic distaste. "Terrible. Human. Body," Dief insisted, signing the words decisively. "No coat, and two legs put you off-balance, never mind how you're forced to expose your—"
Fraser felt his eyebrows shoot into his hairline.
"—to everyone, which is really not smart, if you ask me," Dief concluded.
Reccer’s Notes: Dief is turned into a human by a witch on a case. He has to learn to use opposable thumbs, but arguably Fraser learns something more important…
Speranza’s works are classics in this fandom, and her grasp of the characters’ voices, innovative plots and excellent storytelling will show you why. This has lovely trope inversion - as unlike most animal transformation fics it’s an animal character to a human not the other way around - and is more than twenty years old. A real classic, indeed, but absolutely worth a re-read…
Fanwork links: About a Dog
Rec: Batman/DCU: Recollect, re-collect by Ptelea
Fandom: Batman/DCU
Pairings/Characters: Jason Todd, Batfamily Members & Jason Todd, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake & Jason Todd
Rating: Teen and up
Length: 94,000
Creator Links: Ptelea at AO3
Theme: Magic, Batfam, memory loss
Summary: Jason would tell you that his most recent case, where he stopped a wannabe warlock's spell-in-progress, went just fine.
Jason would also tell you he was fine with the distant, prickly status quo of his relationships with the other Bats.
(Jason is maybe not the most reliable of narrators.)
Or: A spell gone wrong leads to Jason hashing some things out--with himself, with Dick, and with the rest of the Batfam. Featuring: rather a lot of thoughts and conversations about memory, change, damage, love and trust, accountability, family, hurt, lies, death, Spyral, pedestals, cases, memorials, stories, and Robin.
Reccer’s Notes: This is a Jason Todd focused fic, but also an incredible ensemble piece, where every single member of the bat family is portrayed brilliantly. DCU does have very patchy consistency in characterisation, but this author takes pretty much the best versions of these characters and brings them to life with sympathy, consistency and authenticity. The characterisations and character interactions here are very compelling, and the magically induced memory loss gives us an exciting storyline to really explore Jason Todd and his relationships with the bat family. If you enjoy Jason Todd and Batfam fics, you will not be disappointed!
Fanwork links: Recollect, Re-collect
Pairings/Characters: Jason Todd, Batfamily Members & Jason Todd, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake & Jason Todd
Rating: Teen and up
Length: 94,000
Creator Links: Ptelea at AO3
Theme: Magic, Batfam, memory loss
Summary: Jason would tell you that his most recent case, where he stopped a wannabe warlock's spell-in-progress, went just fine.
Jason would also tell you he was fine with the distant, prickly status quo of his relationships with the other Bats.
(Jason is maybe not the most reliable of narrators.)
Or: A spell gone wrong leads to Jason hashing some things out--with himself, with Dick, and with the rest of the Batfam. Featuring: rather a lot of thoughts and conversations about memory, change, damage, love and trust, accountability, family, hurt, lies, death, Spyral, pedestals, cases, memorials, stories, and Robin.
Reccer’s Notes: This is a Jason Todd focused fic, but also an incredible ensemble piece, where every single member of the bat family is portrayed brilliantly. DCU does have very patchy consistency in characterisation, but this author takes pretty much the best versions of these characters and brings them to life with sympathy, consistency and authenticity. The characterisations and character interactions here are very compelling, and the magically induced memory loss gives us an exciting storyline to really explore Jason Todd and his relationships with the bat family. If you enjoy Jason Todd and Batfam fics, you will not be disappointed!
Fanwork links: Recollect, Re-collect