Praising Fics by Other People for a Change

[paulamcg]

Challenge #8

Rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.



Here you are: three fics (here in alphabetical order) I’ve recently admired.

full moon twofold (T, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin) by renaissance (necessarian)

This fabulous AU succeeds excellently in making canon elements both deepen the characterisations and serve the fascinating plot. The writer also has a genius way of using two perspectives and non-linear narrative for more than one good reason. The main characters are impossible not to fall in love with, and a more minor character’s role is intriguing.


The Weighing of the Wands (R, Garrick Ollivander/Albus Dumbledore) by purplefluffycat.

(This one I’ve alrady recced in December, but as a fic by Anonymous.) From a simple canon scene the writer has extrapolated a rich, deep story. There’s amazing magic: detailed wandlore treated like art, true magical art. There’s a touching depiction of an evolving relationship between two men, whose characterisations acquire new dimensions and nuances. And it all illuminates some most essential canon issues as well. An(other) enviably excellent fic!


Winter of ‘79 (E, Sirius Black/James Potter) by writcraft

The brilliant writer has combined the canon situation and (excellently-researched) 1970s reality in Britain into a convincing world, in which the fabulously-portrayed characters live as whole persons. These circumstances make the turning point in their relationship into a both more poignant and more satisfying story than I could expect. The sex is the most beautiful I could possibly hope for, and the language is gorgeous.
This fic works perfectly on its own but is part of Little Compton Street Series. Incredibly enough, the other parts, which I haven’t finish reading, seem to be even more amazing.

Comments

[vaysh]

Okay, it's time I finally read Writ's Sirius/James fic. :) Thank you so much for all HP recs - they all sound great.

[paulamcg]

Yes, I guess it is high time – if you’ve even heard about it before and known the writer! And you’re welcome!

[teigh_corvus]

Wow, this all sound fantastic! And I doubt I would have found them if you hadn't rec'ed them, so thank you. :D

[paulamcg]

Yay, I’m happy I’ve managed to rec something not too well-known!

And I’d like to add you. I’ve now seen in a Snowflake post of yours that you love (AU) werewolves and long, plotty fics. (I started my long Remus fic right after OotP, and I’m only happy I didn’t have to include Greyback but could develop quite different werewolf characters.)

[teigh_corvus]

Please do!

I ADORE werewolves! And long, plotty fic too. Those two things together are the shiniest of treasures. :D I am excited to read the words 'my long Remus fic' - that shall be going to the top of my read list.

[paulamcg]

Added!
I adore also people who put any fic by me to the top of their read list! Have you written long, plotty Remus fic yourself? This post is supposed to be reserved for reccing fic by others, but perhaps I’m humble enough, telling you that my post-OotP novel Remus Lupin and the Revolt of the Creatures is not, in my view, brilliant at the very beginning (as it was my very first fic, and kept getting better as it took me seven years to write it) and there are more and better-developed werewolves in later chapters. (It used to be up on FictionAlley but is now only on my Livejournal.)

[teigh_corvus]

I've only written Remus as a side character in ensemble fic. Your question made me stop and think about why. I mean, canon werewolf is something I'm normally all over - see my undying love of and fic for Daniel Osbourne as exhibit A. And I'm relatively certain it's because I found copperbadge's Stealing Harry so early in my fannish life. Sam did such a good job with Remus I think I was intimidated out of trying my hand at writing him. This might be something to revisit, now that so much time has passed.

In addition to writing Oz, I've a bunch of Bandom werewolf stories that I'm terribly proud of - both on the Archive and on my journal - and I have a pack of OCs that have been keeping me company for decades.

[paulamcg]

It’s wonderful to meet another friend of werewolves! However, I’m not so sure if I can get to know your pack, because I’m only in HP fandom and I don’t know those other canons. But I’ve found a small Bill fic by you on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/114544)…

I think I was lucky not to know about Stealing Harry and its intimidating awesomeness when I launched into writing continuation to OotP from Remus’s perspective. In case you’re not so eager to tackle my epic, after all, perhaps you could be interested in my take on “the Prank” in a recent rather short fic,
Sense of Strategy (as an example of how I write)?

[isabellerecs]

Thanks for sharing! :D

[paulamcg]

You're welcome!

[necessarian]

thank you for the rec!! these others look interesting too :D

[paulamcg]

You’re welcome! Yay, I’m glad I’ve managed to rec something you, too, find interesting.

[writcraft]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for the rec. I am so happy you enjoyed Winter of '79 and are liking the other works in the Little Compton Street series.

Thank you too for the other recs, they both sound terrific. I'm particularly intrigued by Dumbledore/Ollivander as it's a ship I don't think I've read before which is a rare find for me in HP these days! I look forward to checking them both out.

[paulamcg]

You’re welcome! Yes, I’m savouring Play Me Like A Love Song.

And I’m glad that even though I read slowly and haven’t read much fic after my return, I’ve managed to point people to something that’s new and interesting to them.

[gracerene]

I love Prongsfoot and that fic by Writ is one of my favorites for the pairing! And yes, all the fics in that series are phenomenal, and I'm not a particularly big Will/Minerva shipper, but that fic blew me away!

[paulamcg]

I found Writ’s fics only two weeks ago, and I’m awed. I’d never shipped Sirius (my second favourite character to write) and James, but Writ’s Prongsfoot is irresistible. Now I want to read Play Me Like A Love Song slowly, savouring it.