Recs: June 3, 2012
Jun. 3rd, 2012 11:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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beth_hOkay, so I've seen The Avengers five times so far. How many more opportunities will I have to see it before it disappears from the theatres?
Avengers - Marvel Universe
arysteia (arysteia on LJ): "The Twice-Told Tale" (Avengers/iron Man/Captain America. Steve/Tony, Team, Others. " For someone he'd hero-worshipped for so long, Steve Rogers in the flesh is a pretty big disappointment. For one thing, he keeps looking at Tony as though he reminds him of someone else, and even if he never says anything, Tony's pretty sure it's his father. A lifetime of not measuring up to Howard's expectations is more than enough, thank you very much, and he's certainly not going to make an effort to live up to any of Steve's. Steve's pretty clearly failed to live up to his expectations, in any case, and that's not hypocritical at all." Just when the story seemed to be settling into a really lovely relationship development story for Steve and Tony, it takes a turn...and becomes even better. Very cool.)
BlackEyedGirl (black-eyedgirl on LJ): "The Time to Find a Place to Land" (Avengers. Clint/Phil, The Team, Others. " By Phil’s count, this is his third attempt at bringing the Avengers together, although he will admit his participation in the second attempt was more symbolic than anything else. He hadn’t expected Stark to be the easiest sell, or Barton to be the most problematic, but things have changed since he’s been away. " Fantastic voices all around, and an excellent look at the fall-out from Loki's actions during the movie, especially where Clint is concerned. The team is really a team here. Potentially spoilery content information: Phil - who theoretically ends up dead in the movie - is only in a coma, but for ten months, the team thinks he's gone. Clint's happiness at discovering Phil's alive is only matched by his anger that Phil's last thought was to use his death to build the team.)
hollimichele (holli on LJ/DW): "the hip and the dead" (Avengers/Captain America. Steve, the Team, Darcy, Others. "When she asks about the other tenants in the building, the realtor just throws up his hands and says, "Look, I don't know. They're artsy types, if they live around here. You know. Hipsters."" Steve moves back to Brooklyn and starts to settle in, but...maybe things have changed? Starts out gentle, but it's also a little sad and touching and hopeful, all at once. I was actually pretty surprised by the emotions that were drawn out of me.)
jibrailis (jibrailis on LJ): "The Sky and Everything Beneath It" (Avengers/Captain America. Steve, the Team. " Steve goes on a road trip to clear his head, but the other Avengers won't leave him alone." A smart and gentle post-movie story about things lost and things found. I really loved Steve in this.)
kellifer_fic (kellifer_fic on LJ): "Frankie Says Relax" (Avengers. Darcy, Team, a bit of Darcy/Clint. " Where Darcy gets a day job." Darcy starts to work for each of the Avengers. And...this is one of those stories that I think of as "Darcy-centric Reader-Insert Wish Fulfillment," where we're Darcy, generally being awesome. *g* Much fun!)
mumblemutter (aka, a & cm / mumblemutter on LJ/DW): "Life outside that will persist in entering" (Avengers/Hulk/Iron Man. Bruce/Tony/Pepper. "Pepper and Tony and Bruce get domestic." As it says on the label [summary]. Bruce is tentative, as one might expect, but Tony and Pepper are very welcoming.)
potboy (potboy on LJ): "A Kindness Repaid" (Avengers/Captain America/Thor. Steve, Loki, Others. "Written for a norsekink prompt: Loki is abused in the Avengers' custody, Steve is horrified and tries to comfort him. As a result the two become friends. (Though when Loki is involved nothing is quite that simple.)" In which Steve changes just as much as Loki does, and yet from a certain perspective, neither really changes at all. Some surprisingly touching moments, and some extremely interesting perspectives, especially where Asgardian family dynamics are concerned, but don’t ignore the potentially spoilery content information, especially if you’re at all invested in Thor: casual acceptance of rape as a tool of control/punishment on the part of the Asgardians which could be triggery for some readers, although the narrative itself clearly doesn't present it as being in any way acceptable. Sadly, it's not really unbelievable; it's unlikely, but not impossible that even Thor could behave that way, especially when viewed from a Viking/historical perspective.)
some_stars (some_stars on LJ/DW): "Emergency Pants" (Avengers/Iron Man/Hulk. Tony/Bruce, Pepper/Tony implied...in a good way. " "Were you worried?" Tony says. "That's sweet. That is always so adorable when the big guy worries about me."" Basically a post-mission pwp, but sexy and really charming.)
spuffyduds (spuffyduds on DW): "Avengers Dissemble" (Avengers. The Team. "Everybody lies, everybody fronts." Post-movie, and...there's a lot they don't say, even to themselves.)
theorytale (theorytale on LJ): the “Birds and the Bees” series (Avengers/Iron Man/Thor. Tony/Loki, Tony/Pepper. Starting from a prompt that says “Basically, Loki bursts into the avengers mansion and forces a potted plant into Tony's hands and says 'this is your child' and storms out.” this series - two stories as of this rec - would be crack except for the fact that NorseMyth!Loki gives birth to things much stranger than a mere potted plant. Loki, despite being in a sometime-relationship with Tony, remains in character, Tony does as well, and Pepper...yay, Pepper!)
Sherlock Holmes
Boeshane42 (boeshane42 on LJ): "Mental" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Sherlock Holmes is a patient in a closed psychiatric ward. John Watson is his new psychiatrist." A very cleverly conceived and executed story, which moves seamlessly from character-centric AU to casefic and back again. Potentially spoilery content information: as the author's notes say: "everything you'd expect to find in a closed ward, i.e., issues of mental illness, discussion of suicide, drugs, restraints, etc.")
e (etothepii on LJ): "Show Me How to Stop Running" (BBC. Sherlock/John, Lestrade. "John gets turned into a werewolf during Afghanistan, and it sucks, but then he moves in with another werewolf, and it gets better." One of those really clever AU's where you're thinking "wow, this characterization is excellent," and then you laugh to yourself, because, yeah, John and Sherlock and Lestrade aren't, canonically, werewolves. Except...if they were? They'd be these werewolves!)
entanglednow (entanglednow on LJ): "A Little Competition" (BBC. John, Sherlock, Mycroft. " "Still, John, a ghost story at Halloween, during a power cut, in a thunderstorm. The terribly predictable cliche of it all." Sherlock slides down in the chair until his chin touches his chest. " It's raining, John returns to Baker Street soaked to the skin only to find Mycroft there with Sherlock. And then the power goes out, leaving the three men with nothing to do but share...ghost stories. And, okay, so here's the thing: this story veers from really original gen to slash about 3/4 of the way through and maybe it needn't have done? It's not that I didn't like the John/Sherlock interactions - I did - but I was quite happy reading an entirely different story. Despite that, I'm still reccing this because the gen part of the story is so perfectly in character and so smart.)
Pic_Akai (b_s_n_m on LJ / ficofpic on DW): " When I Am Gone, The World Keeps Turning" ( When Mycroft retires, there is no leaving party. This is how the British government copes when he is no longer the British government.) and "Thank You For Letting Me Pretend" ( Mycroft is facing either a lonely retirement or death (he hasn't yet decided) when Lestrade notices him, and gives him another option.) (BBC. Mycroft-centric, Lestrade featuring in the second story. Two stories about Mycroft's eventual retirement, both believable, but the first is rather more believable, i.e., rather more depressing. Both, though, are smart and engaging and well worth the read)
Raven (loneraven on LJ): "and now, the shipping news" (BBC. John, Molly, Clara, Lestrade, Harry, etc... "After Sherlock's death, John thinks (too much), drinks (not enough) and, on a tide of sisters' ex-wives, cheese and kindness, sails on." Gen, post-Reichenbach, as John goes through the grieving processes in a very non-excessive manner. Smart and extremely honest.)
Star Trek
Rheanna (rheanna27 on LJ/rheanna on DW): "Lunch and Other Obscenities" (Reboot!Verse. Uhura, Gaila, Uhura/Spock. "Nyota liked her roommate just fine until she met her." A smart look at cross-cultural negotiations. Really lovely, as much for the developing friendship between Nyota and Gaila as for the start of the relationship between Nyota and Spock.)
Afterword: Have you recently read something that you loved, especially in one of the following fandoms: Avengers, Discworld, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Lewis, Sherlock (all varieties)? Or have you written something that you think I might enjoy reading? If so, leave a link below!
Avengers - Marvel Universe
arysteia (arysteia on LJ): "The Twice-Told Tale" (Avengers/iron Man/Captain America. Steve/Tony, Team, Others. " For someone he'd hero-worshipped for so long, Steve Rogers in the flesh is a pretty big disappointment. For one thing, he keeps looking at Tony as though he reminds him of someone else, and even if he never says anything, Tony's pretty sure it's his father. A lifetime of not measuring up to Howard's expectations is more than enough, thank you very much, and he's certainly not going to make an effort to live up to any of Steve's. Steve's pretty clearly failed to live up to his expectations, in any case, and that's not hypocritical at all." Just when the story seemed to be settling into a really lovely relationship development story for Steve and Tony, it takes a turn...and becomes even better. Very cool.)
BlackEyedGirl (black-eyedgirl on LJ): "The Time to Find a Place to Land" (Avengers. Clint/Phil, The Team, Others. " By Phil’s count, this is his third attempt at bringing the Avengers together, although he will admit his participation in the second attempt was more symbolic than anything else. He hadn’t expected Stark to be the easiest sell, or Barton to be the most problematic, but things have changed since he’s been away. " Fantastic voices all around, and an excellent look at the fall-out from Loki's actions during the movie, especially where Clint is concerned. The team is really a team here. Potentially spoilery content information: Phil - who theoretically ends up dead in the movie - is only in a coma, but for ten months, the team thinks he's gone. Clint's happiness at discovering Phil's alive is only matched by his anger that Phil's last thought was to use his death to build the team.)
hollimichele (holli on LJ/DW): "the hip and the dead" (Avengers/Captain America. Steve, the Team, Darcy, Others. "When she asks about the other tenants in the building, the realtor just throws up his hands and says, "Look, I don't know. They're artsy types, if they live around here. You know. Hipsters."" Steve moves back to Brooklyn and starts to settle in, but...maybe things have changed? Starts out gentle, but it's also a little sad and touching and hopeful, all at once. I was actually pretty surprised by the emotions that were drawn out of me.)
jibrailis (jibrailis on LJ): "The Sky and Everything Beneath It" (Avengers/Captain America. Steve, the Team. " Steve goes on a road trip to clear his head, but the other Avengers won't leave him alone." A smart and gentle post-movie story about things lost and things found. I really loved Steve in this.)
kellifer_fic (kellifer_fic on LJ): "Frankie Says Relax" (Avengers. Darcy, Team, a bit of Darcy/Clint. " Where Darcy gets a day job." Darcy starts to work for each of the Avengers. And...this is one of those stories that I think of as "Darcy-centric Reader-Insert Wish Fulfillment," where we're Darcy, generally being awesome. *g* Much fun!)
mumblemutter (aka, a & cm / mumblemutter on LJ/DW): "Life outside that will persist in entering" (Avengers/Hulk/Iron Man. Bruce/Tony/Pepper. "Pepper and Tony and Bruce get domestic." As it says on the label [summary]. Bruce is tentative, as one might expect, but Tony and Pepper are very welcoming.)
potboy (potboy on LJ): "A Kindness Repaid" (Avengers/Captain America/Thor. Steve, Loki, Others. "Written for a norsekink prompt: Loki is abused in the Avengers' custody, Steve is horrified and tries to comfort him. As a result the two become friends. (Though when Loki is involved nothing is quite that simple.)" In which Steve changes just as much as Loki does, and yet from a certain perspective, neither really changes at all. Some surprisingly touching moments, and some extremely interesting perspectives, especially where Asgardian family dynamics are concerned, but don’t ignore the potentially spoilery content information, especially if you’re at all invested in Thor: casual acceptance of rape as a tool of control/punishment on the part of the Asgardians which could be triggery for some readers, although the narrative itself clearly doesn't present it as being in any way acceptable. Sadly, it's not really unbelievable; it's unlikely, but not impossible that even Thor could behave that way, especially when viewed from a Viking/historical perspective.)
some_stars (some_stars on LJ/DW): "Emergency Pants" (Avengers/Iron Man/Hulk. Tony/Bruce, Pepper/Tony implied...in a good way. " "Were you worried?" Tony says. "That's sweet. That is always so adorable when the big guy worries about me."" Basically a post-mission pwp, but sexy and really charming.)
spuffyduds (spuffyduds on DW): "Avengers Dissemble" (Avengers. The Team. "Everybody lies, everybody fronts." Post-movie, and...there's a lot they don't say, even to themselves.)
theorytale (theorytale on LJ): the “Birds and the Bees” series (Avengers/Iron Man/Thor. Tony/Loki, Tony/Pepper. Starting from a prompt that says “Basically, Loki bursts into the avengers mansion and forces a potted plant into Tony's hands and says 'this is your child' and storms out.” this series - two stories as of this rec - would be crack except for the fact that NorseMyth!Loki gives birth to things much stranger than a mere potted plant. Loki, despite being in a sometime-relationship with Tony, remains in character, Tony does as well, and Pepper...yay, Pepper!)
Sherlock Holmes
Boeshane42 (boeshane42 on LJ): "Mental" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Sherlock Holmes is a patient in a closed psychiatric ward. John Watson is his new psychiatrist." A very cleverly conceived and executed story, which moves seamlessly from character-centric AU to casefic and back again. Potentially spoilery content information: as the author's notes say: "everything you'd expect to find in a closed ward, i.e., issues of mental illness, discussion of suicide, drugs, restraints, etc.")
e (etothepii on LJ): "Show Me How to Stop Running" (BBC. Sherlock/John, Lestrade. "John gets turned into a werewolf during Afghanistan, and it sucks, but then he moves in with another werewolf, and it gets better." One of those really clever AU's where you're thinking "wow, this characterization is excellent," and then you laugh to yourself, because, yeah, John and Sherlock and Lestrade aren't, canonically, werewolves. Except...if they were? They'd be these werewolves!)
entanglednow (entanglednow on LJ): "A Little Competition" (BBC. John, Sherlock, Mycroft. " "Still, John, a ghost story at Halloween, during a power cut, in a thunderstorm. The terribly predictable cliche of it all." Sherlock slides down in the chair until his chin touches his chest. " It's raining, John returns to Baker Street soaked to the skin only to find Mycroft there with Sherlock. And then the power goes out, leaving the three men with nothing to do but share...ghost stories. And, okay, so here's the thing: this story veers from really original gen to slash about 3/4 of the way through and maybe it needn't have done? It's not that I didn't like the John/Sherlock interactions - I did - but I was quite happy reading an entirely different story. Despite that, I'm still reccing this because the gen part of the story is so perfectly in character and so smart.)
Pic_Akai (b_s_n_m on LJ / ficofpic on DW): " When I Am Gone, The World Keeps Turning" ( When Mycroft retires, there is no leaving party. This is how the British government copes when he is no longer the British government.) and "Thank You For Letting Me Pretend" ( Mycroft is facing either a lonely retirement or death (he hasn't yet decided) when Lestrade notices him, and gives him another option.) (BBC. Mycroft-centric, Lestrade featuring in the second story. Two stories about Mycroft's eventual retirement, both believable, but the first is rather more believable, i.e., rather more depressing. Both, though, are smart and engaging and well worth the read)
Raven (loneraven on LJ): "and now, the shipping news" (BBC. John, Molly, Clara, Lestrade, Harry, etc... "After Sherlock's death, John thinks (too much), drinks (not enough) and, on a tide of sisters' ex-wives, cheese and kindness, sails on." Gen, post-Reichenbach, as John goes through the grieving processes in a very non-excessive manner. Smart and extremely honest.)
Star Trek
Rheanna (rheanna27 on LJ/rheanna on DW): "Lunch and Other Obscenities" (Reboot!Verse. Uhura, Gaila, Uhura/Spock. "Nyota liked her roommate just fine until she met her." A smart look at cross-cultural negotiations. Really lovely, as much for the developing friendship between Nyota and Gaila as for the start of the relationship between Nyota and Spock.)
Afterword: Have you recently read something that you loved, especially in one of the following fandoms: Avengers, Discworld, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Lewis, Sherlock (all varieties)? Or have you written something that you think I might enjoy reading? If so, leave a link below!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-06-04 02:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-06-04 02:37 pm (UTC)