March recs

Apr. 29th, 2024 08:27 pm
spatz: Mr Tumnus and a probe at the lamp post, from <a href="http://xk3d.xkcd.com/665/">this XKCD comic</a> (winter lamppost)

I didn't read a ton in March -- between my birthday, attending SXSW Film (16 movies in one week!), and then getting over the cold I caught at SXSW -- and what I did read was mostly… Harry Potter fic? Yeah, I was surprised too. I've bookmarked only one fic in the last few years since JKR went off the transphobia cliff, so it was a bit strange, but I was pleased to see fandom is persisting in being aggressively queer and/or 'fuck canon' about it.

So I've got 1 Murderbot fic, 1 The Fugitive fic, and 5 Harry Potter fics, plus a handful more at Pinboard.

reasoning made lucid and cool by The_Onion (Murderbot, gen)

Iris is guest-teaching a PUMNT course, so it makes sense for Murderbot to go as her security. Yes, ART is doing most of the job, and yes, they are making Murderbot take a class, but it's still only there for work. It thinks? What do you mean it has to do a group project.

"Really, the longer I stayed here, the more it seemed like this was all a ploy to force me into an education module."

A++ Murderbot-ART dynamic, plus Murderbot blowing its cover to save lives, as per usual.

Wikipedia: List of notable manhunts by rastaban (The Fugitive, Sam/Richard)

Categories: Manhunts | US Marshal's Office | Overturned convictions in the United States | Withdrawn drugs | Gay & lesbian figures in the 1990s

Charmingly meta fic from the POV of someone editing the articles about Richard's story. I love the details filling in the case details, and every quote from Sam sounds just like him.

 

HARRY POTTER

Heal Thyself by astolat (Harry/Draco)

"Are you going for the course?" Lovegood asked. "You have the NEWTs.”

“What course?” Draco said, then, “No, don’t be ridiculous,” when he realized she meant the notice pinned up on the board he’d been staring at: Applicants To The Introductory Mediwizard Course For The Coming Term Shall Present Themselves In The Chief Mediwizard’s Office By August 24th.

“Oh, I thought you might,” she said. “Well, goodbye.” And off she wandered again in her addled way.

Great redemption arc for Draco with fascinating worldbuilding about magical healing. And competence porn, of course - astolat always excels at that!

the dogfather by hollimichele (gen, Remus/Sirius)

“I’m not a reverse werewolf either,” says the man. “I’m your godfather.”

Wonderful AU where Harry gets adopted by Muggles and Sirius escapes early that I started reading on Tumblr ages ago and finally got around to finishing on AO3 years later.

All Our Secrets Laid Bare by firethesound (Harry/Draco)

Over the six years Draco Malfoy has been an Auror, four of his partners have turned up dead. Harry Potter is assigned as his newest partner to investigate just what is going on.

Creative and engaging plot (mystery with intermittent work disasters), and VERY hot.

that’s the art of getting by by sarewolf (Remus/Sirius)

“What do you want me to do?” Remus says, tiredly. All he wants is to curl up on his bed. Smoke a pack of cigarettes. Get drunk. He can’t stop looking at Harry.

“Remus…” Dumbledore is gentle. Remus hates when he has that tone. Hates that he knows it will hurt. “There is no one else left.”

A bitter laugh escapes him. “So you’ll curse the poor thing with a werewolf for a guardian?”

Wrenching, gorgeously written AU that digs into Remus and Sirius's trauma, then patiently untangles their grief and betrayal and love so they can start to heal.

Lost and Found by rosie-writes (Remus/Sirius)

Imagine a universe in which Remus never went to Hogwarts. The Marauders never became Animagi, and so Peter had nowhere to run when Sirius cornered him after the Potters' deaths. Peter was the one who ended up in Azkaban, whilst Sirius was granted custody of Harry. Fast-forward six years or so, to a sunny day in April 1988….

Wistful but startlingly sweet AU.

spatz: (beach scarf)

*squeezes in at the last minute* Don't mind me, November was terribly busy and also I sprained my ankle - but here's some recs from before all that!

Galagar Gallivant
by Quasar (Nine Worlds, genish)

His Radiancy devises a way to fix an anomaly in time. No priest-wizards were severely harmed in the making of this fic.

Completely delightful pre-canon romp, featuring HR being whimsical in response to magical weirdness, Kip being oblivious but also trusting HR to the nth degree (*heartclutch*), and just general charming shenanigans.

A Contract's a Contract, No Matter How Small by @PenAndInkPrincess (Witcher, genish)

Unexpected side effect of Jaskier praising witchers far and wide: children making the logical jump that witchers can handle ALL monsters. Including such subspecies as the under-the-bed variety.
And, well, what are you supposed to say to a child who asks you to fight a monster for them?

Technically this is a WIP, but the chapters are pretty standalone and SO CUTE.

A Dangerous Game by @fabula-unica (DCU, Bruce/Hal)

"You know what I think," Jordan said. "I think you’re one of those people who think they can’t be pranked. That’s what I think.”
“Jordan. There is no conceivable universe in which you could ever successfully prank me – not in your wildest, most attention-deficit-disordered imaginings is that a thing that could possibly occur.”
Jordan gave a quiet laugh. “You wanna bet?”

I am weak for prank wars and this is an excellent one!

The Long Con by @acornsontheground (DCU, Bruce/Hal)

Hal is adamant that he's not going to spend Bruce's money. Bruce intends to change his mind about that. (A sort-of 5+1 fic)

*facepalm* Bruce why are you like this. But at least he's using his powers for good? Very domestic and funny.

Duty of Care by allonym (Harry Potter, gen)

Megwin is two-thirds done with roll call when she stumbles over a familiar name. Harry Potter. Strange coincidence. There’s a student in her muggle primary classroom with the same name as The-Boy-Who-Lived?
A canon-divergent AU in which Somebody Helps Harry Potter.

Creative and satisfying, though it does take Dumbledore's puppeteer tendencies to the worst conclusion, so maybe don't read if you're a Dumbledore stan.

If It's Me You Need To Turn To, We'll Get By by Linxcat (The Untamed, gen)

Zixuan would like to be closer with his half-brother. He would like to skip all the awkward fumbly beginning bit where they don't know each other and just magically arrive at fraternal harmony, where they can joke around like the Jiangs and look out for each other like the Nies and have that spooky synchronicity like the Lans, but the truth is that he's never had a sibling, and he has no script or example for what you're meant to do when you discover one as an adult. They don't have years of in-jokes and growing pains to fall back on, they're basically just strangers who happen to share a parent.
the sickfic fixit in which JGY discovers the Mortifying Ordeal Of Being Known and Zixuan discovers the Mortifying Ordeal of Getting To Know Other People

Really great characterization, and I like how narrow of an escape the last scene is - JGY's damage goes very deep and I like how this author gets that.

spatz: sundial with fall leaves (sundial)
Whelp, I really fell off the Snowflake Challenge bandwagon, but there's still time to go running after it belatedly. I have practice at that! But for today, I just did my monthly check back through my recent bookmarks, and realized I'd forgotten to do that last month. So here are my favorites from two months in a row. I realized while compiling them that I was doing a bit of KonMari at it - I read and bookmarked several dozen stories, but the ones that make these posts are the ones that make me go "Yes, that one!" as I scrolled through.


In Time, Once Again
by 擂文
, translation by katiirabbi (Nirvana in Fire, Lin Shu/Jingyan)

When Xiao Jingyan finds himself transported back to his nineteen-year-old self after living a long life as emperor, he is determined to stop the Chiyan conspiracy from happening. But in the attempt to change the wheels of fortune, what will he lose and what will he gain? This is a story of perseverance, love, and sacrifice.

If you watched NIF and went, ‘Gosh, wouldn’t it be great to read a story where Jingyan suffered even more, at length, but also there’s a happy ending?’ then this is the story for you. I also had a nerdy good time reading the translator’s notes.

Turn, Archer, and Heed the Wild Hunt by Mhalachai (MCU/Narnia, gen)

In the summer of 1983, Clint Barton goes to live with his new foster mom in the middle of nowhere, Iowa. Now he just needs to figure out how negotiate this new life… and also what’s up with all the strange things happening in the night.

In which Susan Pevensie teaches Clint archery and gives him a home. Fantastic and heartachey.

Hermione Granger’s Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by waspabi (Harry Potter, Draco/Harry)

‘You’re a wizard, Harry’ is easier to hear from a half-giant when you’re eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you’re seventeen and late for work.

The initial premise - that Harry got lost from the magical world, and is tracked down in London circa Year 7 by a ragtag group led by Hermione - is a stretch, honestly, but once accepted this is an awesome read, full of humor and nineties period detail and a lot of orphaned teenagers finding a new family together.

Things I Should Have Remembered by SomewhereBeyondReality (Anastasia, Anya/Dimitri)

“You were born into this world of glittering jewels and fine titles. But I wonder if this is what you really want.“ The problem with being a long-lost princess, Anya discovers, is that it means you haven’t been a princess for a long time.

Gorgeous little character study dealing with Anya’s culture shock in a series of missing scenes at her grandmother’s house in Paris.

running wild with vengeance by smilebackwards (A Study in Emerald, gen)

For every monarchy, there is a revolution in waiting.

Sharply creepy for such a tiny piece.

Memories of Unreal Things by 7iris (Temeraire, Laurence/Tharkay)

There was a room, and a pallet inside it; a small torch burned low in a socket upon the wall. A man lay upon the cot, his face bruised and battered, his hands curled against his chest bloody, and Laurence did not know him.

Or, a little part of Blood of Tyrants goes differently.

A neatly written AU with a spot-on Tharkay voice. I love it when authors from old fandoms dovetail back into one of mine.

Handmaiden by Tequila_Mockingbird (The Curse of Chalion, gen)

First through the stone arches, with a self-supplied fanfare of unladylike but triumphant whoops, rode a pair of young women on blowing horses belly-splashed with mud.

Great portrait of Betriz, from the start of her friendship with Iselle through Dondo’s death.
spatz: sparrow perched on a branch (quest)
The day did not dawn auspiciously - I lost my fangirl badge for thinking the midnight release was Saturday night rather than Friday night, then we tarried too long at my uncle's dinner and I had to resort to driving to a 24-hour HEB at 11 PM, where I finally secured their second-to-last copy. I returned home triumphant and finished reading about half an hour ago, in the same chair where I read the first book - a chance pickup by my father at the library when I was 12, thinking I would like it. I certainly did - I couldn't put the damn thing down until I finished, and then made Lindsey read it rightawayOMG.

Spoilers for Deathly Hallows )

Wishlist

Apr. 25th, 2007 08:28 pm
spatz: sparrow perched on a branch (Default)
I read this article about possible plots and arcs for Supernatural (nothing spoilery past Hollywood Babylon), and started thinking about stories I'd love to see on the show. Ones that are, y'know, remotely plausible.

1. Haunted Train )

2. Cage Match )

3. New Blood )

4. Curses )

5. War Stories )

I just gave myself a bunch of plot bunnies, didn't I? *sigh*

ETA: I can't believe I forgot bodyswapping and Bruce Campbell as a guest star.

Something else I wish for: the second half of [livejournal.com profile] mistful's one-shot from this morning. I'm deeply addicted to her Drop Dead Gorgeous universe, because she takes a crack!fic plot (Harry is part Veela! No, *really*) and writes very believable characters, reactions, and dynamics in a post-war world. Maya has this unique mixture of insanity and pathos in her writing that really gets to me - I'll cackle one second and feel like I got punched in the heart the next, and there's fantastic running UST that doesn't let up. It's been a while since I haven't been impatient/annoyed by an unrequited crush plotline, but that feeling dragged me into fandom six years ago and I'd forgotten how much I love it.

Rec

Apr. 5th, 2004 08:40 pm
spatz: sparrow perched on a branch (Default)
I've just been converted. Damn those fanfiction writers!
spatz: sparrow perched on a branch (Default)
I'm not spoiling any of this for you, so go read this story *right now* or you will regret it. If you like McGonagall, you'll like this even more. If you *don't* like McGonagall, you will after you read this. It's got action, romance, humor, friendship, Quidditch, audience-friendly winks, Peru, and horses. How could anyone resist?

A Distinctly Different Manner of Finding Prince Charming

*makes shooing motions*
spatz: sparrow perched on a branch (Default)
First, everyone should go read Stealing Harry, a HP AU that is so adorable, I want to wrap it in a blanket and feed it hot chocolate.
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~foora/sam/secret1.htm
You have to manually change the chapter number in the URL, up to chapter 12, but it's worth it. Fluffy and cute and wishful, but also contains thought-provoking characterization, as interesting AUs often do.

The newest snippet is up here, and you should leave a review while you're there. (I'm on a reviewing kick, so watch out)

*****

I greatly prefer cheap chocolate to gourmet chocolate. Dove and Hershey's is simply better than Godiva in my opinion. Don't bother smiting me! My sisters will do so any minute now...

*****

I reviewed a Simon/Jayne fic earlier today, which would have been infinitely better if it had been left as friendship-only. It literally felt like the author stuck the sex onto the end to satisfy her own pairing inclinations. It saddens me, because I've enjoyed several other fics written by her and I know she sees the subtleties of these characters. In fandom, this happens far too often for my liking, as people fall prey to slashy subtext, the urge for pretty boy sex, and the idea that fighting=unrequited lust.

H/D is an especially heinous offender. I can't read any of the long fics I've got bookmarked because I'm sick to death of the fanonization of Draco. I love And I Get By by Silvia Kundera because the boys make friends without Draco losing his innate bastardly behavior, without Harry abandoning Ron and Hermione, without Rival!Love Syndrome, and without other assorted fandom cliches.

That is why I will continue reading the Draco Trilogy until it ends. She has singlehandedly turned Draco into a leather-wearing sex god, mauled Hermione's character and confidence, given the characters Mary Sue-like powers, mistreated Ron, and I have this horrible sick feeling in my stomach that it will end up slashy... But. The boys have such a gorgeous, intense, real friendship that I can't give it up.

That is why I love The Care and Feeding of Hobbits so much. I have been worn thin by passion and subtext and love that can't be. I want the quiet moments, the random conversations, the unspoken comprehension, the loves that bind but do not sneak off into the bushes for a quickie.

That is why Fall On Me makes my heart ache.

That is why I remember Legolas Shall Be For The Elves, despite the Frisbee of Anachronism Hell.

Help me out, ya'll. Where are all the friendship fics hiding? Surely I'm not alone in this...

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