telophase | Fic recs ... ?

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fic recs,
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Fic recs ... ?

This is sparked by a comment I made on

sophia_helix's recent slash poll, which I'll just repeat here:

What I really prefer for the most part is fic that is not primarily about romantic/sexual relationships between people, which seems to be a radical idea. *My* attitude is: if I wanted to read a romance novel, I'd be reading a damn romance novel. What I want is adventure, or suspense, or intrigue, or mystery, or humor, or ... etc., etc., etc. What 99% of the fic out there does is focus on the relationships between characters or on the bits of the characters that are formed by relationships or lack of them, and pushes the plot of the piece into the background, using it as an excuse to get the characters to examine or actively avoid examining their relationships.

*mournful cry into the wind* Whatever happened to plot?!

So ... your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to: rec me fic that isn't about relationships. I want plot! Give me action! Mystery! Humor! If there's some romance in it, fine, but I don't want it to be about the romance! Slash, femslash, het, gen, I don't care!

And lots of navel-gazing introspection is right out. I am not a fan of navel-gazing introspection, honestly. I want to have to tease it out, like in the manga Saiyuki, not have their thought processes laid out bare for me.

What, you want fandoms? I'll edit this post in a couple of minutes and list fandoms I could possibly scrape up enough knowledge about to read, but I've got to run up to the Ref desk at the moment.

Fandoms

I may not be into most of these as fandoms, but I can summon enough knowledge about the series/book/show/movie to fake it. Feel free to ask me about any I've left off my list, and I'll add them if necessary. :D (list built by skimming through the fanfiction.net subject list, not because I've been actively seeking out most of these)

Blade of the Immortal, Bleach (up to the US releases), Clover (CLAMP), Cowboy Bebop, CSI, Blackadder, Death Note, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Hellsing, Hikaru no Go, HItchhiker's Guide (book, movie, radio), Howl's Moving Castle (book or movie), Hunter x Hunter (US releases), Inu-Yasha, Law & Order: SVU, Naruto, Onmyoji, Petshop of Horrors, Pirates of the Caribbean, Records of a Yokohama Shopping Trip, Red Dwarf, Rurouni Kenshin, Saiyuki, Samurai Champloo, Slayers, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen, Spirited Away, Trigun, Utena, Yu Yu Hakusho

Anything running in the US Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat mags, I can fake.

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...I'll have to wait for the list now, but omg you sure you want recs? I can find you recs. :3

Yup. Can't say I'll read 'em all in the next few days, but with a list of recs I can go read them whenever I've got a few minutes. :D

8) I'll see what I can do when I'm home from work.

(Although.. snap. Possibly won't be able to give out oen (series) of Bleach recs on the basis I dunno how far the US release has gotten. :X oh well!)

The group has just gotten to the other world and fought the giant gatekeeper guy. :D Book ... 8? I've forgotten the exact number.

Hee, I like romance... but I like it as a subplot. I just want something else going on other than y'know, the romance.

Unless it's smut. Smut doesn't need a plot.

True, dat. Smut is smut, and plot just gets in the way. XD

There's a cute HP story on FFN that's Ron at a chess tournament, Midnight by the Weasley Watch.

ciceqi's If is a nice plotty end-of-series _Saiyuki_ story.

I'll have to look through my bookmarks for more later.

Some of the stories from last year's HP Genficathon (http://www.livejournal.com/users/saeva/22700.html) might suit you.

Now here, I'm rather amused by the budding concept of a Saiyuki bodice ripper.

As Sanzo heaved, his emaciated ribs rose in sharp relief under his pale flesh. Gojyo pressed closer so that his bangs teased the priest's forehead. Cigarette smoke mingled with the scent of anticipation and sweat. Violet eyes turned away as the kappa's hand rose and then ripped the holy man's robes from his slender frame.

"Gojyo, we mustn't," Sanzo managed before swooning in his lover's arms ♥♥♥

--

And here, I'm not sure what's funnier. The idea of Sanzo swooning from anything outside of bloodloss or me referring to him as a 'holy man'.

octopedingenue recently recced a wonderful piece of Saiyuki gen, but I thought I'd mention it anyhow: Reconciled (http://www.site-bg.com/nightfall/saiyuki/reconciled.html), a look at the discrepancies between Saiyuki and Journey to the West, via Hakkai. Hilarious and necessary.

Also, I know this wasn't on your list of fandoms, but I know of some Stargate: Atlantis humorfic that really does not require context (I don't watch the show either) and makes me very, very happy. The only things you need to know: they are on an alien planet in a lost-technology city with a lot of random stuff lying about. Sheppard is military, Elizabeth Weir is commanding civilian, Rodney McKay and Radek Zelenka are resident scientists. I think both of these work just as little short stories, by themselves: Egg (http://www.ravenswing.com/~mirrorgirl/egg.html). It's the last line of this one that gets me. Pi Throw (http://www.ravenswing.com/~mirrorgirl/pithrow.html). I know so many MIT and Caltech people that this reads as realistic fiction. Heh.

I love "Reconciled."

"Oh, devoutly, your Holinesses, and with my full attention."

"...Forget it," the androgynous one sighed. "That's the look he had before he bitchslapped Litouten."

Actually,

nightfallrising (the author of "Reconciled") has lots of interesting gen on her site (http://www.site-bg.com/nightfall/nest.html), although most of it tends towards introspection. I'd recommend it anyway. Try "Pay it Forward" for plottiness, and "Halloween"/"October" for the '70s AU that owns you.

I've pimped this the universe and back, but

andmydog's Hamlet Saiyuki (http://www.livejournal.com/users/andmydog/96636.html) is one of the funniest things on the internet.

snowyheart also did a wonderful little AU of the Sanzo-ikkou as kindergarten children (http://www.livejournal.com/users/snowyheart/3412.html).

Mmm, I kinda think "Pay It Forward" is most interesting for its character portrayals, but it is worth a read.

With the exception of the first one (which is a Bleach rec), most of these will probably be fore Naruto. I've run through my 70+ naruto-recs list for things you may like, so I'll probably toss a bunch sporadically at you as and when need be. <3

1) Study Guide (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2150564/1/) by Celeste1
Summary: Rukia studies the behavior of humans with the help of pop-culture visual aides.

Oneshot, humour, it's exactly what it says on the tin.

2) Transition Anchor (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1656578/1/) by Chelsee
Summary: Survival and loss, dealing, adaption. Anticipation and
dread -- Those Hidden in the Leaves, sitting on the edge of no
tomorrow.
PG-13 - 6 Chapters - Action/Adventure/Suspense - WIP/On Hold

Now, this one is brilliant. It's one of the first I always rec, but also must give a warning for: it was written when the Chasing Sasuke arc was still in its earlier stages and is (WOE) unfinished. It's by Chelsee@DA, no less, and she DOES have the later chapters somehwere XD but she last mentioned she'd probably rewrite a big chunk to reflect the recent plot information given out.
Nonetheless, this is one brilliant, vivid piece of story telling in the NarutoVerse, and will always get a high recommendation from me.

3) Echoes (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1963572/1/) by Calendar
Summary: It will be Sakura's first real solo mission without her
teammates. She regrets that she ever looked forward to it.
PG-13 - Angst/Drama - Oneshot

Another one-shot, with som very nice writing, very effective imagery.

4) Crossroads (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1952351/1/) by XD
Summary: In another time and place, Naruto is brought up without
knowledge of the Shinobi. And Sasuke is about to find out that
true friendship is more than just another phrase in the poetic
analects.
PG-13 - Drama/Action/Adventure/AU - Chapters: 7 - Complete

This is an AU fi---HEY, where are you going?! *grabs by scruff and sdrags back* This is a really, really effective story, using the turning point of Naruto NOT being raised in a village of ninja. And it really works. I particular like the roles played by Kakashi, Iruka and Itachi in this one, and the characterisation of both Sasuke and Naruto are very nicely done.

5) To Absent Friends (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2097937/1/) by rallamajoop
Summary: Team 10 and Team Gai have an unexpected opportunity to
get to know each other better. Just one of many possible
outcomes to the current manga arc. (Done for the RL Issues and
Abused Plot Device (http://www.livejournal.com/users/farli/259205.html) Challenge.)
PG - English - General/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Oneshot

Written before the Chasing Sasuke arc ended, working from the assumption a certain two ninja died in the attempt. Really, REALLY good story.

And since I'm reccing Rallamajoop (who has an LJ around here somewhere)...

6) Thicker Than Water (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2299088/1/) by rallamajoop
Summary: Gaara fic, pre-series. Just how do you raise a baby who will probably kill someone if he ever throws a tantrum?
Rated: K+ - Drama - Oneshot

A little bit chilling, this is a very good piece of work, giving a little more perspective on Yashamaru and bebe!Gaara.

7) Itachi (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1705160/1/) by

sadieko
Summary: ...what a weak, fragile neck he had...It would be so easy to break.
PG-13 - English - General - Oneshot

~~Read anything by Sadie. No, I'm not biased at all! 8)~~ One of the rare, the few, the proud: an Itachi fic that doesn't make him a cuddly plushie weasel.

8) Dear Foolish Little Brother (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1799754/1/) by

solderini
Summary: Like all good boys, Itachi writes home occasionally.
PG - Humor - Oneshot

One of the funniest stories I can think of at the drop of a hat.

9) Color Wheel (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1890990/1/) by Luc Court (

rabbitprint)
Summary: Multi-chapter fic, Kabuto character study. Spoilers.
The colors of various masks and the way they contribute to the single individual who wears them. Finished.
PG - English - General - Chapters: 4

Read all and anything by Luc Court. He is the man. o_ov That aside, this is one of the finest Kabuto-centric fics on ff.net, crafting a skillful story about the spy in glasses.

10) Lessons (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2481629/1/) by Elizabeth Culmer
Summary: Umino Iruka is a good ninja, and a good man. But nobody is born with all the answers.
Rated: T - General - Oneshot

Sick of those weepy-uke, useless-chuunin Iruka fics? Me too. This isn't one of them. This is probably my most favourite Iruka fic ever, on the basis of characterisation alone.

11) The Mourning After (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1888385/1/) by Neptune47
Summary: How do you cope with the death of someone you love?
Naruto and Sasuke deal with Sakura's sacrifice in different ways.
PG-13 - English - General - Chapters: 2 - Finished

An incredibly effective What If? type story, that takes the DeathFic plot device and makes it worth reading again.

12) Persistance of Vision (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2385795/1/) by Sna
Summary: Quite literally, Kakashi's always got somebody keeping
an eye out for him. (Timeline: Post-"Kakashi's Gaiden" in the Manga - aka begins 13
years prior to series start and goes from there.)

I already raved about this in my LJ a while back. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/farli/321115.html)

13) These are two great fics well worth reading. :3
A Golden Gray Mourning (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1790730/1/) and its sequel, Birds of a Feather (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1949331/1/) by

istoria
Both are gen-fic, both are Mystery/Suspense/Horror and both are completely worth bookmarking, in my not at all humble opinion. XD

If you want more ~~it's gonna costa ya~~ just gimme a poke and I'll see what I can find. XD

Celeste1's Proposition is my favorite Bleach fanfic to date. It's so in character and the ending makes me laugh every time.

see, but i thought a large reason why fic existed--why slash exists--is because the original stories have no romance! XD (like, for example, all shounen jump titles. ahem.)

other than that, i can find you some stuff later, when i'm not at work. ^^ yay, plot.

oh! right off: the way of the apartment manager, on ff.net, good, plotty, naruto fic.

A few more:

An old, long-in-progress, just-completed story of Hogwarts under attack: Balance. Strictly gen and plot.

A HP police procedural by Julie Fortune (aka Rachael Caine): Dark Avatar.

Stealing Harry is an AU of the Harry Potter books where Black and Lupin steal Harry from the Dursleys at age 8. Its Harry is charming. The sequels are AUs of the novels proper, and thus have about the same proportion of plot.

I second the recommendation of Stealing Harry. Most of my fanfiction links are on the family computer, but Someone to Look Up to is a good one-shot from Blaise during Philosopher's Stone. Blaise is a girl, but I think it was written before JKR cleared up the gender issue.

I would also like to offer The Best Defense and its sequel, A Good Offense for a crossover (HP/YYH) that has no business working as well as it does.

Maldoror currently owns my soul. http://www.livejournal.com/users/maldoror_gw/
It doesn't get in the way of the action, especially in her longer fics, but when her romantic streak surfaces, it's quirky, fun and often really really hot.

Her Naruto stuff is pretty all-around solid, although Diplomatic Relations is a particular (and particularly hilarious) highlight for me (who'd have thought I'd be reading Gaara/Lee?!). Fun stuff. http://kiyasama.com/project_greenlight_fanfiction/viewuser.php?uid=61

You didn't mention Gundam Wing on your fandom list, but her story Freeport (and before that, The Arrangement) totally put GW back on the fandom radar for me, after years of not giving a damn about it (http://www.raygunworks.net/maldoror.html). I'd almost go so far as to suggest that even non-GW fans would appreciate these, especially Freeport, since she does such a good job of setting up the world.

I was bored at work today so I went through memories, bookmarks and my ff.net favorites to see what I could rec for you. Not sure how many of these will be to your taste, but I did my best to avoid both romance and navel gazing so this is what was left:

Doctor Who recs:

And Never Count the Cost (http://www.livejournal.com/community/dwfiction/85000.html)
Kind of dark, a bit of angst, I really liked this one.

Children of the Revolution (http://www.livejournal.com/users/loneraven/428840.html)
Ficlet centering on the Doctor talking to himself (in a literal sense). Regeneration crossovers are always fun.

Echoes in Time (http://www.livejournal.com/community/time_and_chips/281809.html)
Ficlet that looks at the ripples made by large events. A bit angsty, but pretty good.

Ivory and Horn (http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=2319)
Nothing like a life and death situation coupled with a trip through the subconscious.

Of More Value Than Many Sparrows (http://www.livejournal.com/community/time_and_chips/209386.html)
Oh, teh angst!

Support Undergarments to the Rescue (http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=2339)
Because with a title like that, how can you go wrong?

Sure as Eggs is Eggs! (http://www.livejournal.com/users/doyle_sb4/366961.html)
Even Slitheen deserve a second chance.

InuYasha recs:

Encounter (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1750932/1/)
Short, but amusing.

Jaded Hypocrisy (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2410278/1/)
Dark and a little odd, but I liked it.

Out of Time (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1525834/1/)
This one's unfinished but not abandoned. Not the greatest writing ever, but an interesting plot.

Tales From the House of the Moon (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1638751/1/)
The first arc wasn't all it could be but the second and third more than make up for it. The story is shippy but not really romance.

Saiyuki recs:

A Few Minor Details (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1654146/1/)
Because...Hee!

Crossing the River (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2226965/1/)
Kind of a different take on things.

Punishment (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1390566/1/)
A dark ficlet, I liked this one but I'm wierd.

I was also going to rec 'Reconciled' but someone beat me to it. ;-)

Also, if you've any interest in Fruits Basket I can rec some of the ones that didn't make my brain hurt.

Wonder why I didn't put FB on the list? Hm. Yeah, FB up to the US release I know.

An Accident's an Accident (http://www.livejournal.com/users/niamh_sama/77879.html)
The Mabudatchi Trio as kids... Too. Cute. For. Words.

Covet (http://www.livejournal.com/users/orpheneritus/52834.html)
Not a happy fic, but I liked it.

Shaken, Not Stirred (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2219224/1/)
Another Mabudatchi Trio fic, this time they're teens. Funny.

The Worst Patients (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2021118/1/)
A bit uneven and still unfinished, but I do like this one. (Wierd interlude aside)

There's a couple of other things I'd have recced, but they're spoilery so...not so much with the sharing.

There's a nice Tonks-centric Harry Potter story at Schnoogle, called Nymphadora Tonks and the Liquor of Jacmel. http://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/SnorkackCatcher/Nymphadora_Tonks_And_The_Liquor_Of_Jacmel/

HP fandom:

The Lady of Shalott's Scholomance series may never be finished, but it still fascinates me every time I go back to read it. Creepy and intriguing, I'd enjoy it even if I wasn't part of the Potter fandom; I won't give away any plot details, but there aren't many authors with the balls to do what Shalott does in the last of her four existing installments.

A Rare Descent (http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/hp/ARareDescent.html)
Passing Through (http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/hp/PassingThrough.html)
The Eleventh Doorkeeper (http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/hp/TheEleventhDoorkeeper.html) Wow.
The Seasonless World (http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/hp/TheSeasonlessWorld.html) Bang.

I also enjoy grindylowe's black comedy, Death Eaters At The Malfoy Estate (http://www.geocities.com/grindylowe/fanfic.html). Is it possible for a fic to be sad and funny and ridiculous and poignant at once?

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FIC RECS. D:

(Stupid Word Limit...) Naruto Fic Recs CONTINUED~

:3

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