So I've been muddling about in the world of HP fic on my own. And not terribly thrilled with most of what I've found. There are aspects to some of the stories that are worth reading, but I've yet to find a story I really want to read a second time.

This was one of those stories that was epic despite its length. I loved the characterizations. Hermione in this was adorable. The only thing I would have liked is a little more explanation of what happened in the five years. They passed too quickly.

Thanks for the rec. Also, I've been meaning to ask you if you read BTVS/ATS. Due to lack of recs by you in that fandom I've always suspected not, but...well enquiring minds want to know.

Okay, so for the HP side of things...it seems like HP and SGA fics that are on the good end of the scale are rather similar in the sense that, although they're readable and you can occasionally find an epic worth that name, most of them are more similar to cotton candy--sweet at the time but melts away almost immediately and too much can cause cavities.

On the bad side of the HP fandom there seem to be far too many fics that are similar to really bad BTVS. And there are way too many of the bad fics out there.

I've been more in love with Merlin recently, it's so easy to find really great and quite good Merlin fics, and it's rare to find anything shorter than long.

I actually have a really strong thing against both long and curly hair in guys so although I've read a few Sentinel fics that I liked quite a lot (most notably Point of Contact series by Jane Davitt and a few stories by litgal), I find it quite difficult to read that fandom in the first place.

The thing I like about the BTVS/ATS fandom is the sheer number of pairings that are actually written. And I'll admit that it's pretty much the only fandom in which I can tolerate something more than a twosome (core four fic can really make sense when you think about the joining spell). As far as the shows went, I was most fond of seasons two, four, and five and honestly think someone should be shot for the final season, but the really neat thing about Buffy writers is their ability to do post-canon work that has characters in weird and random places (often without Buffy present at all, and sometimes with her present in such a way that you almost start to like her). ATS I generally can only stand human au's, mainly because Angel is such a vanilla character and Angelus is such a twisted freak that it's too difficult to reconcile the two.

I could probably find some interesting rare pairings in ATS if you have any interest. One of the best stories I've ever read in the Jossverse was actually a Riley/Xander pairing called Song of Iowa by EntreNous. There are so many interesting pairings out there though. Connor is actually one of the characters you find less often (unless you count the really twisted writings of such people as ash_carpenter) but you can still find him in some stories worth reading. And there's a plethora of Fred-god-king fics if you don't mind the fact that she's usually just a supporting character (there was one really good fic where she's paired with Spike, but it was by sexymermaid so it's lost to the ether). So thanks again, and all.

Okay, to start with, since you like Connor, Trust Me (http://www.dbw-ink.com/thehumancondition/fiction/thebratqueen-trust_me.html) by thebratqueen which is Angel/Wes pairing and clocks in at 45,000 words. I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say, the whole ATS crew is there in all their glory.

Next, how about a lovely story or two by darling tabaqui. Hero (http://spanderfiles.net/arvs/tabaqui/hero.html) is a Xander/Will which has a beautiful plot and is a nice 28,000 words long. And there's a post-canon Spike/Xander fic, Under the Mountain (http://spanderfiles.net/arvs/tabaqui/utm.html) set in Seattle.

Finally, how about a little Giles/Xander. mireille719 and soft_princess wrote a fascinating Council fic Conspiracy Theory (http://www.seeking-solace.com/FlyWithMe/fanfics/ConspiracyTheory1.htm) that's a nice 64,000 words long. It's both a kid!fic and an adventure. Well worth the read.

If you liked any of these pairings let me know...I have gobs of recs for all of them. Oh, and let me quick give you the site for Song of Iowa (http://entrenous88.livejournal.com/tag/song+of+iowa), which is just...gah.

Hey, in that case feel free to write me if you would like any more recs when you do end up with some time on your hands. I'm able to be reached either at my lj or my email of the same name at yahoo.

If you'd like some Merlin of the Arthur/Merlin variety, I do have a few bookmarks set aside. First off, astolat's The Crown of the Summer Court (http://intimations.org/fanfic/merlin/The%20Crown%20of%20the%20Summer%20Court.html) happens to be one of my favorites. It's at least long (somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 words according to my delicious) and may be a cross-over, but if so I don't know with what. It's just one of those sweet sweet sweet fics that makes you feel like you've just bathed in maple syrup.

Now lamardeuse is, strangely enough, one of those authors who I can only really fancy in one fandom, namely Merlin. Her Defenders of the Realm (http://boxofmagic.talkoncorners.net/viewstory.php?sid=23&warning=5) is really quite fantastic, not only for the main pairing, but also, perhaps even moreso, for the secondary (I would honestly read to find out). It's a cop, present au fic, with Uther totally stealing the show.

Now how about the dear paperclipbitch. I don't know about you, but We're a Storm In Somebody Else's Teacup rocked my world. In the "We're trying to stick to canon" sense, Next Time, I Will Remember This and I Will Say 'No' (http://paperclipbitch.livejournal.com/102740.html) is almost better (okay, probably not better, but equally good). I'm a huge fan of au's in both Merlin and SGA, but if you can show me a fic done well in a more canonical sense I will kiss you. And this is just one such. (Probably long)

Okay, I really really liked this fic. It seemed ridiculously well-written and quite beautiful in an angsty angsty angsty way. Doubled Over With the Hunger of Lions (http://nightanddaze.livejournal.com/126582.html?style=mine) is one of those fics that is magical in the best sense of the word. Really quite breathtaking at 23,000 words.

And how do you feel about repeating time fic? mercurial_wit's quickening days (http://mercurial-wit.livejournal.com/45235.html) is really quite good and over 20,000.

Finally, although it's nowhere near long enough, the_hoyden's Misrule (http://thehoyden.livejournal.com/242787.html) has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read. And another Uther show-stealer (can you tell I'm totally in love with A.S.H.?).

Erm, yeah, so thanks for allowing me to feel like I'm contributing in some sense to this great great world of rec-dom.

Yeah, the fandom's too new to have enough long or epic length fics. But I still think that this fandom's going to be the next big thing (probably the next spn rps, but far more readable). Every character in canon is both unique and simple in a way that authors should find far easier to write than most fandoms. And pru was one of the first big backers (I know you don't care for her much...too many short fics added on at the end of an epic?) which apparently MEANS SOMETHING.

I'll attempt to find some other bookmarks in delicious. It's been a while since I've been on the site. Not that it's been that important considering the time of the year.

Right now I'm just waiting with bated breath for leupagus to finish the darling star trek reboot fic Only Good For Legends. The first few chapters have been...epic.

I don't know about Merlin. I know the second season of the show sucks, but look at SGA. That show certainly went in the toilet early on and still had ridiculous amounts of fic. (I never cared for John, though, so I suppose I'm not one to talk. The episode after Trinity was the nail in the coffin for me.)

The reason I still stick with Buffy is the whole fact that stories are still being written about it even six years after the end of the show. That's gotta count for something.

See, pru-wise I can't help but really enjoy most of her long stories in SGA. There are a few that I thought really poorly written and a few that I can understand why you wouldn't care for at all. I love humor in my fics, though, and pru is one of the only writers I know who can write an angsty story and still make me laugh my ass off. (The real reason I like her is she writes aus where John's as much of an asshole as he is on the show...kinda awesome.)

Almost all of her SV is not my cuppa, on the other hand. And nothing against drp, but if I ever am still writing timestamps for a fic months after it's finished...

It makes perfect sense that Star Trek Reboot will be the next big thing. I mean you already have so many backers in the classic fandom, and talk about a movie that will bring fangirls. (Again didn't much care for it. The comedy parts really squicked.)

And obviously Sherlock Holmes is going to explode now...at least I hope.

Wow, so I didn't see this til today...cool.

My problem with Merlin is the fact that it's made overseas, so I have no idea how good the quality is in comparison with other shows over there unless you count Dr. Who (usually pretty good, sometimes terrible and sometimes fantastic) or Torchwood (evil, evil, evil). I keep thinking that when you consider the size of the country, nothing of any worth should be created there.

I've spent the past few days muddling through Tira Nog's Until Proven (http://m.www.tiranog.southroad.com/harry_potter/Until_Proven_Part-I.htm) which gave me a bit more perspective on her writing style. Really the plot-line isn't terrible, just a bit harlequin, and no one can fault her for that. And the sex, although prosaic, is not consistantly AWFUL. It's more a matter of dialogue than anything else. And ironically, unlike most authors who have big problems with dialogue it's not a lack of ability to discern different characters' voices or even a simple disregard for providing enough information to keep the reader apprised of the characters' motivations. Instead it's an absolutely ridiculous amount of description thrown in the middle of every dialogue in the story. It's actually the only place where the author is consistant, while causing havock with the timeline and choosing to use supporting characters only when needed for a given scene.

Despite the total lack of any kind of warning about the rape, torture, and creepy crossover with SGA scenes I actually liked several parts of this fic. The beginning was totally original, and at least half of the scenes with Hermione and/or Ron were amusing and warming. But then you have a fic that ends with absolutely nothing resolved despite the fact that it was at least double the length it needed to be.

I just wish the beta had had the balls to cut half the words from this fic, as it so clearly needed (I'm sorry, but when the author feels the need to not once but twice remind the reader of an anecdote during a single conversation scene I honestly cannot give them any credit at all).

I do have a bit of fic, if you'd like. Another author who is really quite innovative in the BTVS 'verse is kimberly_a. She's written some really intriguing Spike/Xander, but if I had to give my favorite it would have to be It's Just A Jump To The Left (http://www.nothinglikethesun.com/SX/JumptotheLeft/jump1.shtml). It's a repeating time fic, with a little something extra thrown in. This is one of the best repeating time fics I've read, with Spike and Xander both being in character, and despite the fact that this is a NC-17 fic, I'd call it pre-slash. It is eight chapters, but as I can't find it anywhere else, it's actually worth getting through. Also, the author has some funky grammar which leads me to believe she's not American, but it's one of those didn't-notice-until-I-copied-it-into-word things. It's 38,000 words, which has to be of the good, but please, please, please avoid the sequel. It's...I don't know why the author even wrote it, it was that bad. There's semi-con bdsm, non-con penetrative sex by a partner, and no warning. Talk about not pleasant.

Now I thought I might have heard somewhere that you like sap. If you do, ladycat777 and xanphibian's A Place Called Home (http://spanderfiles.com/arvs/ladycat/apch.html) is the fic for you. This is, again, one of those fics I've come back to time and again. It's one of those stories that feels a bit like a warm blanket, and perfect to read at the end of a crappy day. It's 18,000 words and always feels like more to me.

To keep with the theme, eliade's Involuntary Bodies (http://spanderfiles.com/arvs/anna_s/ib01.html) always feels like her most sappy work. It's very much keeping with her style of writing, so sudden beginning and ending both and although there's really no overt character bashing, she manages to make several of the characters out to be the insensitive creatures they are. It's interesting to see season six through a slighlty more Spike/Xander filter and at the same time to see how they deal with the difficulties life throws their way. (21,000 words)

So I suppose it's officially my turn...hrm...Well first off, one of the first SGA fics, and actually the first Tira Nog fic I read was An Affair To Remember - Mcshep Style (http://tiranog.southroad.com/SGA/Affair.htm). And, amazingly enough, even back then I COULD NOT finish this fic. I'm sure there's nothing against it if you're not a ridiculously strong fan of the movie, but if you are...please avoid this story at all costs.

Next off I suppose you deserve a story...Once upon a time, there was a girl who had never watched House. Like many girls around her, she found it off-putting, and fairly annoying.

But when she first started watching the new fanfic community she found (aka you), she started actually reading House fic.

Although she had never watched an episode, she had watched previews. And for some reason, she always thought Omar Epps' character was Wilson.

So in other words, she always thought House/Wilson fic was very poorly described.

Then, one day last week, she realized that Harry Potter wouldn't hold forever (or for any time apparently). And instead decided to look up former fandoms' she'd given up on.

House was the first she decided on. And so she first decided to watch the show, and has been hooked on Foreman/House ever since.

Anyhow, I just wanted to mention that queenzulu probably has written the best works out there, and will continue so to write in the Foreman/House-dom.

Well, I had a party last night, and there's a very high probability that my bad mood of the morning is going to cause someone sincere pain.

So first off, if we're being perfectly honest, there are several real reasons HP fics can be atrocious writers. First off, we have the probable age of said writers. If they read the books when they first came out and were actually the appropriate ages for the books, there's a high probability that they're young. And the fact that these are kids' books makes the circle complete. There will ALWAYS be young authors in this fandom.

Next off, there's the simple fact that there are FAR too many people who read the books to begin with. Which means authors are from every nationality imaginable. (And I thought trying to read my Canadian/Eniglish/Hawaiian friends' stories was difficult.)

Finally there's the simple fact that the characters are presented in school so the amateur author will always keep the characters there. Chan is the only possibility when three quarters of the characters are young enough to be the other characters' children. At least in the silly authors' minds. You'll find an eery amount of seventeen/eighteen-year-old Harry fics. I lost all respect for dementordelta when I accidentally read a fully chan 11-12 Harry story. (Seriously, fully penetrative sex with a boy who's twelve when you're forty? For shame Severus. And can we see stronger fuckuppery?)

So other than ridiculous amounts of House fic, I do actually have fic for you, if you choose to accept it.

First, litgal's eerily well-written Can we just roleplay that we're adults? (http://spanderfiles.com/arvs/litgal/canwe.html). Usually I have a bit of a problem with her fic due to the combination of the fact that she's from Hawaii (with weird grammar to suit) and she LOVES Sentinel. But at this point I'm cheering with her for that show. This is obviously influenced by it, and yet... So, I leave you to your reading. (15,000 words)

Next there's a creepy if also fantastic fic out there called Dirty Dancing Spander Style (http://spanderfiles.com/arvs/savoytruffle/ddss.html) by the lovely savoytruffle. If ever there was a fic that snuck in under your skin, it's this. I'm not a fan of Dirty Dancing, and back when I read this I was going through a period of anti-Spander, so the fact that I fell in love with this fic is something even I don't understand.

Have a nice day. Don't drink the red wine...

God, I hate when that happens.

So, although I've officially given up on rec lists for HP fic, I've started just reading the fic on Walking the Plank. And have managed to stumble across some decent Harry/Severus.

LoupGarou1750 (http://loupgarou.dreamwidth.org) is really very good at writing broken Harry, usually with Harry actually being an adult. Both Sadness of Eros (http://www.walkingtheplank.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=2667&warning=4) and Death and the Open Mind (http://www.walkingtheplank.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=3252) are epic-length fics with a very bad no-good Snape and a Harry betraying Ginny. I was seriously blown away by this author's stories. Although I would recommend being careful with the first, as Harry is very much a scoundrel.

The first one is definitely bad bad bad sex addict!Harry. The second is more Harry thinking about guys when he's in bed with Ginny and some masturbation plus when they're already on the rocks.

I'm guessing the second story would be more to your taste anyhow, but the first was entirely to mine. Mei might like it.

In both of these, Severus is a total forceful top/dom. (In fact, in all of her stories he seems to be the one in charge.)

Okay, ever read anything by calligraphy? So Lonely Without Me (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=5658&font=&size=) is a story about a broken Harry who needs someone to keep an eye on him. So, Dumbledore, in his great wisdom locks he and Snape in a two room suite with one bed, one chair, one bathroom, and the only contact with the outside world being a magical dumb-waiter. This just has a dreamy feel to it, and the relationship builds so perfectly. (37,000 words)

The Fourth Year (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=11420&font=&size=) is another story where Snape is Harry's prisoner. I love that the story first starts four years after the war's ended. (40,000 words)

Both of these are from Snape's POV and have both of the boys' characterizations down to a T.