PHOENIX BURNING Yahtzee (Buffy) An ambitious post-The Gift AU with a pitch-perfect Buffy characterization. Buffy is awoken after her sacrifice only to find that hundreds of years have passed and everything is different. A labyrinthine plot, an interesting future world and a few familiar faces make this a hell of a ride. DESIRED Flywoman (Buffy, NC17) A vivid, violent swirl of a story that never lets up and which packs a considerable punch considering how short it is. (Poor Spike.) FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY Jo March & Ryo Sen (WW, NC17) An excellent look at what could happen following Bartlet's MS revelation, showing how political expediency can drive even the most idealistic person to change his position. What I like best here is the creation of a Donnatella Moss who is remarkably unperky, real and likeable and the fine Josh characterization. Josh is so often the golden boy of WW fanfic but here Jo and Ryo take a remarkably clear-eyed look at just what happens when idealism, arrogance and ambition collide. The sequel, PERSONA NON GRATA moves the story on into the future but doesn't take any easy routes out of the scenario. And no, I have no idea who the post-Bartlet pseudo-redneck idiot manchild president ,Gregory W Baker, is based on. Nope. Not a clue. More here UKIUQ Brighid (Due South) A slice of wish-fulfilment dS with a lovely Fraser voice ­ pitched just right. It's RayK but there's a fun RayV moment in there. The happy ending that all characters we love deserve. BETWEEN THE LINES Anjou (XF) A slyly funny filleting of any possible season nine. If the real thing is done half as well as this I will be pleased [trans: bloody astonished] Here's a flavour of the story. Scully telling Skinner about the book that Mulder is writing: "It's, um, kind of a thriller, with some supernatural elements thrown in" she continues haltingly. Skinner is nodding as if this is all to be expected. "And some romance between the main characters," she concludes in a rush. She's fiddling with things on her desk, and she might just be blushing a little. "It's in the subtext, at this point." BEST INTENTIONS J.S.Michel (XF) Ten years after Existence Scully and her son are hiding out with Doggett, but even running for your life can be banal if you do it often enough. Great characterization of all concerned, even the absent Mulder, and a painful honesty make this a fine read. If you don't read Doggett stories, you're missing out. (not that any rec would convince the ranting minority, but if you're at all open-minded, give this a go.) THE AWAKENING Jeylan (XF, NC17) Okay, you're going to have to work with me here: (1) Relax and cast your mind back to a time before Mulder and Scully had gone through the vast catalog of traumas that would have any real person being fitted for one of those nice white sweaters with the buckles on the sleeves; (2) Remind yourself that this is fic and we have the power to do anything we want. (3) Now read The Awakening, starting with the headers. This is a very ambitious debut with some beautiful writing and a few thought provoking tricks up its sleeve which are likely to prove the truth of the acronym YMMV. HOUSE OF CARDS AJ (WW) Sam, lost and lonely and dreaming of the tangled tendrils of connection, physical and mental, between him and Josh. It's easy to write a breezy upbeat Sam, harder to write a Sam that's complex and conflicted while retaining the character's intelligence. There's some excellent writing in this slash vignette. FURTHER TO FLY Michelle Kiefer (XF) A post-Existence Skinner POV vignette in which the surly AD pays a visit to Mulder and Scully and finds that even among company, he is more alone than ever. In this story, Michelle gently pushes the knife into Skinner and then gives it a twist. I like that in a writer <g> THE GAME EVERYWHERE P S Burton (WW) I've always liked WW fic that was about political as well as private choices. In this thought-provoking look at how personal conscience impacts on the West Wing staff, Toby cannot take the compromises involved in a politically expedient response to the Rwandan genocide. Meanwhile Sam's small kindness to a friend backfires badly. Toby and CJ are well-drawn here and there are no easy get-outs. EL QUINTO SOL OneMillionAndNine (XF, NC17)  While it's not the most even story I've ever read, it's full of delightful moments, bright ideas, good lines and strange encounters, the Mulder and Scully characterizations are interesting and spiky and I laughed out loud several times. CATNAP BarbaraD (XF) A short, fluffy, funny vignette that reminds you of why you loved the characters of Mulder and Scully despite consisting largely of double entendres and cat jokes. It's all good. Go read. ENDINGS Adrienne (WW) This story deals with the suicide of one of the staffers, so if you don't deal well with that sort of thing, best not even open this file. Those of you who do read will find an intelligent, sad and absorbing tale of the aftermath. The characterisations of Bartlet, Abbey, Andi and Ginger are particularly well-done. GRAVITY Djinn (Buffy) A post-The Gift vignette that looks at one possible outcome of the ep. The characterizations of Spike, Dawn and Faith are sharp and while there were elements I didn't buy (I had this thing with a thing at the end, to put it in non-spoiling WW speak) it was intriguing and well-written throughout. X-MANSON 0 / I / II / III / IV / V   Dr Benway (X-MEN comicverse) What if Xavier's academy was really a cover for an insane cult? Told in the form of a TV documentary, this story has a pitch-black sense of humor. FOUR MINUTES Deslea R. Judd (XF) Remember Darius Michaud, the movie FBI agent who was prepared to let a building full of people go to hell? Here's his viewpoint, rendered in startlingly effective prose. AS FREEZING PERSONS RECOLLECT THE SNOW Luna (WW) A vignette about childhood that's uncommonly good at evoking Toby's precision, sarcasm and clear-thinking TIMELESS SECONDS AND UNSEEING EYES Laura Castellano (XF) There's a slow, contemplative rhythm about this vignette set post-Closure and post-Per Manum. It manages to show melancholy met with love, without descending into schmoop. LEARN TO HELP YOURSELF Jori (WW) Following the Two Cathedrals flashbacks, Jori recreates some of the scenes between a young Jed and Mrs Landingham and Bartlet senior. An intriguing imagining of the past. VIVERE by Rheanna (Angel) This recap almost consisted only of the words 'My God. Read this now.' Vivere splits off from canon and tells us what would happen if one day Angel went to fight evil and never came back... The chief pleasure of this story is the way Rheanna shows the incremental changes in the characters eight years after Angel's sacrifice, yet makes them utterly recognizable. Her Cordy voice in particular is a treat ­ she's older and wiser but retains the razorblade wit. Can't enthuse about Vivere enough. ARGUS by Jintian (XF) Ah, the pleasure of long intelligent casefiles. This is a wonderful mytharc-infused tale of murder set between Tithonus and Two Fathers in which Krycek and Mulder seek answers as an operative goes rogue. The narrative voices are spot-on, particularly Krycek, and Jintian allows Mulder, Scully and Krycek to be smart but fallible. Smart is sexy, after all. Brand that on your forehead please, Mr Carter. OLD SOUL by Ann Ripley (XF) From the ridiculously sublime to the sublimely ridiculous. Old Soul takes a simple, ingenious idea and runs with it. It's a crafty post-Existence short story that won't send you into sugar shock, it's smart and it's funny. ONE STEP by Basingstoke The envelope held a lock of my hair. A love token. Because whatever else happened between us, he did have beautiful dreams. (Gattaca) This will require knowledge of the movie (if you haven't seen it, go rent it: it's thoughtful sci-fi with a great ending. And Jude Law, but I digress) A meditation on love, loss and identity. Also, I know I've recommended it before, but it's weird and wonderful and should be read by many: Und Jetzt INCLINATION by Laura Jacquez Valentine (Sentinel/Star Trek) A Sentinel AU novella set in the Trek universe. What if a human starship captain were to strike up a close relationship with his Vulcan Guide...his heterosexual Vulcan Guide? This has an original plot and a fascinating take on Vulcan culture. (LK) BLUE BOYS by Kateswan (The Lone Gunmen) What happened after All About Yves finished, courtesy of Kateswan. She has all the voices down, from Frohike, Langly and Byers to Morris Fletcher and AD Skinner, the pacing is fast and the writing witty. Read this and you will have a good time, I guarantee it. HATRED by Debra Fran Baker (XF) Extremely short but very powerful M/K vignette. Go. Read. CENTER OF GRAVITY by  Ellen Milholland (WW) A bleak and unsettling CJ/Sam vignette that dodges none of the problems inherent in that pairing but features a damaged CJ. FAIR by Vanzetti (XF) Alex Krycek finds himself in hell, surrounded by some familiar faces. An intriguing and bleak explanation of and resolution to Existence that pulls off some neat surprises. PILGRIM'S CHORUS by CGB (WW) A fine character study of Ainsley (with a little Sam thrown in for good measure) in which she tries to work out her place in the world, the White House and her family. SILENT PARTNER by PD (XF, NC17) A sequel to the great Skinner POV vignette, Abject. A deceptively simple story, set early in season seven, which looks at how fantasies and cravings are beyond our control. Good Scully characterization and smooth writing. BURNING BRIDGES, BURNING BUILDINGS by CazQ (WW) I have a WW problem: I appear to be the only person on the face of the planet who believes Josh/Donna is squicky and inherently wrong. But I could cheer on this Josh and Donna, conjured by Caz, as they bond over magazine quizzes and the embarrassing Copy Room Thing. An adult, uncutesy Donna characterization makes this a treat LOVE, DARKNESS AND OUR GENOMES by Sarah Segretti (Dark Angel/XF) More a DA fic than XF, although the two universes seem to mesh quite well. The narration is snappy and heavy on action, with a glorious dark twistiness to it. LONG PLAY by Lysandra (XF, NC17) A post-Alpha vignette with a smart Mulder voice and some good lines. PATERNITY by CindyET (XF) Mulder has a visit from the smoking man that makes him cast doubt on his place in William's life. This fic is interesting for the way it shows how the M/S clash in perspectives remains but has mutated. The end is excellent. VERSIPELLIS by Sandy (BtVS, NC17) A character study of Veruca, the fourth-season werewolf-girl. This excels in its portrayal of the heightened senses and terrible beauty of the wolf. I was bowled over by Wild at Heart and this also grabbed me from the first paragraphs. Not for the faint-hearted, however. PERCUSSION by Marguerite (WW) A nifty post-ep for In The Shadow of Two Gunmen which dodges the schmoopiness inherent in the scenario with a good Leo voice. The last line will stay with you. There are two semi-sequels, Written, in which Sam is forced to go on the morning shows after Rosslyn and Fraternity, a richly textured Toby POV piece which looks at his relationship with his brother. waiting.to.drown by August and Penelopody (XF) I haven't seen too much experimental writing in XF lately, so it was a pleasure to read something which took chances in both style and subject matter. It is years since Mulder and Scully were together and Scully has moved on with her life. Yet in the end, she cannot escape from the X-Files or Mulder. One of the pleasures of this story is its fragmentary nature. It assumes the reader can and will fill in the gaps. I enjoyed being trusted to do that WAXING MOON by Bugs (XF) An awkward visit to Scully's apartment shows Reyes that the old guard still have a long way to go before they accept the new guard. Relationships remain spiky and realistic in this vignette from bugs, and the characterization of Doggett and Reyes is good too. WITH EXPLANATION KIND by Luna (WW) Toby helps CJ unwind after a difficult day facing the grand jury. Edgy and dark-ish. LONGER READS TALKING STICK/CIRCLE CYCLE Macedon and Peg (Voyager) Even if you've never read Voyager fic... even if you only know the premise of the series in the sketchiest terms... even if the idea of Janeway/Chakotay brings you out in scary blotches, you should read this "braided novel" of eight stories and novellas. (If you already read Voyager, I know it's four years old but I'm slow  okay? <g>) Written firstly in turn and then jointly, Macedon and Peg create a convincing world where even the apparent comic relief develops depth and dignity. It begins with a bonding session for the crew which goes awry when Chakotay lets a little too much of his anger leak out and moves through a series of adventures until it reaches the climactic and genuinely wrenching final installment. It's not perfect but as fanfic goes, it's wonderful. A legendary ride that will eat your life for days. (But I can take or leave the cat.) THE GIFT OF AN ENEMY Sylvia (XF, NC17) A long, engrossing slash-mytharcish novel that diverges from canon at around Terma/Tunguska. I liked the Mulder characterization here: his empathy and hyper-intelligence are well to the fore. Some of the choices for Krycek are unusual but the writing is excellent and the supporting characters are well-drawn. Intro MEMENTO MORI Jonathan Nolan This isn't fanfic, rather it's the short story on which the film Memento is based. If you haven't seen the film, do; if you have seen the film, read this and spot the many differences. MEET ANOTHER by torch (SW: TPM) Meet Another is a vast Phantom Menace AU that breaks from canon yet incorporates some of the Tattooine sections of the movie. To label this just a Q/O story is to diminish it ­ although the difficult relationship between the two Jedi is at its center, it's a damned good story about the kidnap of Qui-Gon, set in the complex society of Tattooine. Much of the writing is, as ever, stellar. WORLD WITHOUT END by Rachel Anton (XF, NC17) I think this was begun as I entered fandom and I'm almost upset that it's finished. This is a post-col Scully/ Krycek romance story which never short-changes her relationship with Mulder and allows Alex to remain complex yet heroic in the way he overcomes his past. I particularly liked his interaction with the other survivors; the way that he is never quite one of them even as he keeps them alive. A quick warning: The characters inhabit a brutal and dark world and the writing reflects that. This will not take you to a happy place, unless your happy place is wallpapered with angst and there's blood on the carpets. Hell of a ride though.