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insta-rec

Insta-rec: "Your Protector", by exeterlinden

Title: Your Protector
Author:

exeterlinden
Pairing: Bob, Buck and Caroline gen
Rating: PG
Length: 7500 words
Why I'm reccing this fic: This fic was written for me for

help_pakistan, but I'm not letting that stop me from reccing it, because I love it to pieces and want others to read it, too. The thing I love most about it is the deep (but unspoken) affection between all three of them, and I also love all the details of winter survival. I don't want to say too much about the plot, though, because there's a twist at the end.

In conclusion, go read this now, because it is awesome!

Your Protector

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Two fairly recent longer podfics

Today I'll rec a couple of longer podfics which have been posted during this year.

Title: Some Strange Prophecy
Reader:

ann_ciudad
Author:

cesperanza
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Rating: NC-17
Length: 5 h 4 min 46 s
Why I'm reccing this podfic: The story is a fandom classic, so I won't talk much about it (short version: it is awesome). But the reading! I have to say, this is on my list of top five podfics ever (or would be if I were to make such a list). At first listen, it's a low-key reading and not expressive in a flashy way, but it pulls you right into the story, and the emotion is there under the surface and grips you when you least expect it. It's also a great take on Ray Kowalski POV, and the dialogue is especially good, too. I suppose my one complaint is that the volume is a little low.

Some Strange Prophecy (link goes to the podfic archive)

Title: Birds of a Feather
Reader:

mific
Author:

julia_here
Pairing: Benton Fraser and Rodney McKay gen (it's a crossover between due South and SGA)
Rating: PG
Length: 1 h 25 min 5 s
Why I'm reccing this podfic: This story has lots of Fraser family backstory, and I love it to bits (I don't know anything about SGA, but I didn't really need to in order to appreciate the story). I really like

mific's reading--I don't know where her accent is from, but I love it. There are also bits of bird calls used to separate the sections of the story, which is quite atmospheric and works well with the structure of the story.

Birds of a Feather (link goes to the podfic archive)

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challenge: warm fuzzies

New Challenge: Warm Fuzzies

The Unusual Formats Challenge has ended! Thanks to

surya74,

mergatrude, and

mechante_fille for their recs.

Also, many thanks go to

luzula for guest reccing! Be sure to check out her first two posts of podfic recs.

Let's see November out with some Warm and Fuzzy recs. Interpret as you will -- rec fanworks that give you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, or fanworks that feature something more literally warm and fuzzy (like Dief! or um... fuzzy bunny slippers?), or both. Challenge ends November 30th.

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Recs for short podfics II

Today I give you more recs for short podfics (or podficlets, as I like to call them):

Title: Waste
Reader:

vsee
Author:

spuffyduds
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Rating: R
Length: 2:30 minutes
Why I'm reccing this podfic: This is a yummy little snippet about Fraser indulging in a fantasy in the shower.

vsee's voice has a kind of intimate quality that I like a lot.

Waste (link goes to the podfic archive)

Title: Transition
Reader:

podfic_lover
Author:

resonant8
Pairing: R
Rating: Fraser/Kowalski
Length: 2:29 minutes
Why I'm reccing this podfic: More of Fraser's fantasy life! (That could definitely be the theme of a rec post, I'm thinking.) It's a bedroom conversation, and

podfic_lover reads it appropriately, with a sort of hushed voice. I like the dialogue especially.

Transition (link goes to the podfic archive)

Title: "Four snippets up" and "Four snippets down" (see the podfic archive entries for links to all snippets)
Author and reader:

keerawa
Pairing: Six gen snippets, two with Fraser/Kowalski UST
Rating: ranging from G to PG-13
Length: 9:00 minutes each
Why I'm reccing this podfic: Eight snippets for the price of one rec! Recording sets of snippets grouped by theme is a cool idea, and one I wish others would try out, too. The "up" snippets are cheerful, and the "down" snippets are angsty. Keerawa reads both sets equally effectively--I can confirm this, because when listening to them yesterday, I was laughing out loud at one set, and getting tears in my eyes at the other.

Four snippets down and Four snippets up (links go to the podfic archive)

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November guest recs: podfics!

I'm the guest reccer for November, and I'll be reccing podfics (which I did last year too, but hey, I like podfics).

First off, I'll rec a couple of short ones. Short podfics often get overlooked, maybe because of the process of downloading a podfic and then putting it on your mp3-player takes a little bit of effort. By contrast, a short fic is right there on the screen. But a short podfic may be the perfect thing to listen to while you clear the table after dinner, for example.

When I went looking for short podfics, it actually turned out that there were so many that I wanted to rec that this will be the first post of two. (Just as a tip, you can browse the browse the Audiofic Archive by combining multiple categories, for example "due South" and "under 10 minutes".)

Title: Please Advise
Reader:

andeincascade
Author:

spuffyduds
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Rating: PG
Length: 2:11
Why I'm reccing this podfic: This is Ande's first podfic, and I was right there in the room when she recorded it (at Bitching Party). I love Ande's reading and wish she would record more, because she's a natural at it--the pacing is great, and her voice is so expressive. And the snippet is a delightful conversation between Fraser and his father.

Download link at the podfic archive

Title: Purgatory
Author and reader:

slidellra
Pairing: Fraser/Victoria
Rating: G
Length: 2:48
Why I'm reccing this podfic: This fic is short, chilling, and opens a whole world of possibility. It's one of those snippets that stay with you, and

slidellra's clear and expressive reading makes it even more so.

Download link at the podfic archive

Title: Once Upon a Time
Author and reader:

malnpudl
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Rating: R
Length: 2:20
Why I'm reccing this podfic: This snippet is full of delicious, tasty UST, and it also has Fraser telling a fairy tale about the Kinsey report. Since it's a fic about storytelling, it feels very appropriate to record as a podfic, and as always, I love Mal's reading.

Download link at the podfic archive

Hey, could there be a tag of some sort for podfic?

Current Mood: hopeful

Challenge Reminder: Unusual Formats

Sorry for the belated reminder! The Unusual Formats challenge is still running through Monday. It's an excellent time to rec your favorite due South comic strip, filk song, mixed media/hyperlinked story, cleverly captioned pic spam...

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challenge: unusual format

New Challenge: Unusual Formats

The Mysteries Challenge is now closed. Up next (and inspired by the return of

ds_flashfiction's annual genre challenge), let's revisit Unusual Formats.

Please bring on recs for fanworks you've enjoyed which are in a different format from the usual narrative style fics. It could be epistolary, grocery lists, mixed media, comic strip style, chibis, picspam or screencaps, what have you. If it involves Due South, we wanna see it!

On an admin note, we are looking for a final guest reccer for 2010 to see us through November. It's a low-key and fun way to share your love for due South fandom -- if you're interested or have questions, please contact ifreet! Covered! Thank you!

Reminder post!

innocentsmith is guest reccing for October. If you missed it, please stop by her initial Character Pieces post.

The Mysteries challenge continues through Monday, October 25.

helens78 and

luzula have shared some recs -- check them out and add your own!

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Guest recs: Character pieces

Hi, I'm

innocentsmith, and I'll be guest reccing stories for the month of October.

Due South has a lot of things going for it, but one of the things that makes the show so appealing for fandom purposes (I mean, aside from all the slashbait) is how character-driven it is. The leads are fascinating and multilayered, the secondary characters are full of interesting contradictions that make for great fic fodder. And even the most minor characters show flashes of depth and humanity.

So this month I'll be reccing character pieces, with a mixture of gen, canon pairings, femslash, and slash. Let's start off with a selection of fics that take place Long Ago, and, in some cases, Far Away. Who are these characters, where did they come from, and how did they get to be the people they are?

Bullet Challenge by

sageness (Gen, G) - A short epistolary piece that somehow manages to be the best bit of Bob Fraser fic I think I've ever read. Here he is in all his chatty stoicism, understated heroism, and completely facepalm-y priorities.

Home Schooling (Gen, G) - A brief window into Benton's childhood through the eyes of Martha Fraser. I have a major weakness for Martha-fic, having been close to an irascible, larger-than-life grandparent myself, and

luzula always does great things with an underrepresented character.

white gloves and wet umbrellas by Pares (Gen, G) - Stella waits to be picked up after dance class on a rainy afternoon, and has a brief interaction with a boy named Ray. No, another boy named Ray.

Scars by

estrella30 (Kowalski/Stella, PG) - Little Ray K and Stella, with the best of intentions, leaving marks on each other. Sweet, and yet suggestive of what's to come for these two: I never read this one without wibbling a bit.

Deserted by

nos4a2no9 (Gen, PG-13) - Young Fraser finds a postcard from a faraway place. A lovely, bittersweet little piece, suffused with longing.

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challenge: mysteries

New Challenge: Mysteries

The First and Last challenge is closed! Please check out the challenge post for fresh recs by

cyberducks,

green_grrl,

thursdaynext_27, and

mmpenguinguile.

For the next challenge, let's take a turn toward the mysterious. Share a fanwork where things aren't quite what they seem -- casefic, forays into the magical end of magical realism, a narrator who can't be trusted. This challenge will run through Monday, October 18th!

friendly reminder post!

The First and Last challenge is rolling on through Monday. Rec the first due South fanwork you saw/heard/read, rec the most recent -- or both! So far, we've heard from

mergatrude,

luzula,

keerawa,

kirsty841, and

ifreet. Please join in!

Entry tags:

challenge: first and last

New Challenge: first and last

Whoops! Time flies when you're trying to remember your favorite lines. Thanks to

keerawa and

luzula for their contributions to the challenge! (I can't believe no one offered up the Eleventh of March speech. Fixed!)

Let's try an easier challenge this time. Quick, what was the last due South related fanwork you consumed -- fic, vid, art, icons, podfic? Rec it!

If you don't feel like recommending the last thing you read/saw/listened to -- or someone beats you to it -- then tell us about your first fannish encounter with due South. If the fanwork was somewhere online, please include the link in your rec -- but if not (or if it was but you hit a dead link), share anyway!

And of course, if you are so moved, please feel free to respond to both parts of the challenge -- first and last. Next challenge goes up ~~November~~ October 4th.

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challenge: favorite lines

New Challenge: Favorite Lines

Happy September! The Wilderness Challenge is over.

And now for something completely different.

Let's talk about our favorite lines. Do you have a go-to line for a character, one that just perfectly captures who he/she is? Maybe it's a description that takes your breath away every time you read it -- or maybe it's a line from the actual show.

Whatever lines you love, share them in comments -- along with either a note that it's canonical (the specific episode would be nice but not required) or a link to the fic it came from.

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challenge: wilderness

New Challenge: Wilderness

It's been a quiet couple of weeks, but the amnesty challenge is over!

Next up, we're going to get a bit wild. For this challenge, we're looking for fics featuring the wilderness (whether that means the wilds of the NWT or the wildest club in Chicago I leave up to you). Whether the characters are getting back to the land, breaking out in hives from leaving the city, or just getting in touch with their inner (half-)wolf, we want to read about it!

You have two weeks! Please feel free to post recs directly to the comm or in comments of this post. And as a reminder, the community is always open for Instarecs. Read something interesting that doesn't fit the current challenge? Please share it anyway!

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admin

Challenge: August Amnesty!

If you meant to respond to a challenge but didn't make it, now's your second chance! Here are the challenges since our last amnesty:

Episode Related
Faking It
This Read is Going to Take Awhile
Lost Zebras Found
Bodies In Motion
Small Yet Satisfying

Post directly to the comm or comment on the original post. We'll post a round up of new responses at the end of each week. This challenge will run through Monday, August 16th.

And don't forget -- the comm is always open to InstaRecs. Read something amazing? Please share it here!

Challenge reminder/extension: Episode Related

The Episode Related challenge will close on Monday.

lucifuge_5 has recced a couple of interesting episode-inspired stories -- please check them out, and add your own!

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Guest rec: Rarepairs revisited III

I meant to use a broader theme for this set? And then it turned into a Frannie lovefest, and I decided just to embrace it.

Frannie/various (includes Frannie/OFC, Frannie/OMC, Frannie/Elaine, Frannie/Turnbull, and Frannie/Fraser/Kowalski) Fun and Games by madsciencechick/somewhatdeluded. Arguably my all-time favorite Frannie story. Frannie doesn't stop until she finds -- until she makes -- her happy ending.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/OFC, Frannie/Stella, Frannie/Elaine, Frannie/Thatcher, Frannie/Maggie Chick Habit by

ignazwisdom The author's summary says it better than I can -- Francesca Vecchio learns to want, learns that she can’t have what she wants, and finally learns that she can.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Ray Kowalski, Frannie/Elaine, Frannie/Turnbull It Never Rains But It Pours by

brooklinegirl. A series of joyful encounters.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Elaine Fangirl!Frannie by

innocentsmith. Frannie discovers and embraces media fandom. (One of us!)

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Elaine 'cause we belong together now by

wintercreek A lovely established relationship piece.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Maggie, with background Fraser/Kowalski/Vecchio hundreds of miles north of anywhere by

lordessrenegade Frannie goes to visit her brother and his family for the holidays. A sweet story with terrific dialogue -- and never quite as melancholy as my memory tries to make it.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Kowalski, background Fraser/Vecchio Getting this happy takes practice by

belmanoir. Ray goes undercover as Frannie's boyfriend. It's not exactly a deep cover. A guaranteed smile.

( Excerpt )

Frannie/Fraser, Frannie/Kowalski What You Make of It by

dessert_first. Frannie/Fraser is tricky to find in my usual online haunts, and when I do encounter it, it's difficult to overcome my own resistance to the pairing. This one manages it as an AU -- a fusion with 'While You Were Sleeping.' Funny and warm.

( Excerpt )

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other: guest recs

Guest rec: Rarepairs revisited II

Things I have learned this week: many of the bookmarks from back when I first wandered into due South fandom are now dead. Thanks, Geocities! Also, I've learned that my reading tastes have changed somewhat, but I'm going to go ahead and rec at least one that younger-me liked more than current-me does -- and yes, that's partly because most of the other (not completely crack) fics I remember for that pairing appear to have vanished off the web. /o\

Anyway, on to the crazy workplace romances!

Elaine Besbriss/Fraser/Vecchio The First Nine Lives of a Houseplant by

china_shop Scenes along the timeline of the relationship from before it had quite begun, all the way through the happily domestic ending.

( Excerpt )

And I would be remiss not to mention the Dief POV Besbriss/Fraser/Vecchio story, An Observation of Human Mating Behavior, written by

aingeal8 for me in the seekrit santa exchange.

Dewey/Turnbull The Man Who Wasn't There by

shayheyred Two sidelined characters find solace in each other.

( Excerpt )

Fraser/Huey Red Like Bleeding by

j_s_cavalcante Built around the events of 'Juliet is Bleeding,' this is not a happy story... though I feel it's ultimately a satisfying one.

( Excerpt )

Fraser/Thatcher The Dress Looks Nice On You by

icepixie. Ok, this one's actually a vid, so there's no excerpt. You'll just have to trust me when I say it's adorable and worth checking out.

Gardino/Kowalski Decompression Syndrome by

mergatrude Obviously, this pairing can break your heart on several levels -- which this fic illustrates beautifully.

( Excerpt )

On the other hand, Gardino and Kowalski can also be a lot of fun, as demonstrated in Less Than You Think by

brooklinegirl. Just don't think about how it's all going to end.

( Excerpt )

Kowalski/Turnbull, Fraser/Kowalski/Turnbull in later chapters. Three Lone, Lorn Creatures by Matthew Haldeman-Time. A long angst fest, in which Turnbull turns out to have 1) several cats, 2) a massive library and 3) issues stacked on issues. After the first chapter, it's revealed that some of those issues stem from sexual abuse by previous 'lovers,' and once raised, those issues will be addressed primarily through the application lots of sex, so caveat lector.

( Excerpt )

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Challenge: Episode Related

Ok, fake!boyfriends and fake!girlfriends, the Faking it Challenge is over!

Let's talk episode related fanworks! I know, most fanworks are episode related in one way or another, but we're looking for those stories and images that are grounded in specific canonical events. So break out your favorite episode tags, those vids centered on one or two episodes, and the AUs that ask what if this had gone differently.

This challenge will run until Monday, 26 July.

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guest recs

Guest rec: Rarepairs revisited

Happy July, everyone! I'm going to be guest reccer this month -- and I'm focusing on rarepairs. In this episode, one-shot characters need love, too! Or at least some hot sex.

Eric Kitikmeot/Fraser Around, Around by

arrow00. Eric is a fascinating character, and Fraser becomes interestingly flexible around him. A lovely episode tag for The Mask from Eric's POV.

( Excerpt )

Kowalski/Volpe Stop Me If You've Heard This One by

shayheyred. Basically, I love the voice on this one -- it has the ramble and flow of a certain someone telling a story aloud.

( Excerpt )

Kowalski/Volpe and Fraser/Kowalski Asylum Redux (who's gonna ride your wild horses) by

china_shop Volpe was dead: to begin with. But then, this is the world of due South -- that's really not as much of an obstacle as one might expect.

( Excerpt )

Mark Smithbauer/Vecchio Hockey as an Offensive Weapon by

izzybeth. Smithbauer gets name-checked in quite a few stories about Fraser's sexual history. But as far as I know, this is the only story that adds him to Ray Vecchio's. Even though Vecchio finds him intensely irritating.

( Excerpt )

Suzanne Chapin/Vecchio Love and Glory by

brooklinegirl I love Vecchio's immediate, head-over-heels reaction to Chapin in the episode and his romantic framing of their entire, brief interaction. This fic recaptures the whirlwind romantic spirit of the original episode -- but it's set just as Ray is preparing to go to Vegas, so the overall feeling is bittersweet.

( Excerpt )

Vecchio/Frankie Zuko Like A Halfway House For The Mobster-To-Cop Transition by

mizface Ray had to be changed by his time in Vegas. Zuko notices.

( Excerpt )

Ok, that's my short and clearly incomplete list. A mention of Fraser/Smithbauer without links? No stories about Ian Macdonald or MacKenzie King? No Maggie fic? (In my defense, my bookmarking habits are atrocious.) So, help me fill it out -- what are some of your favorite stories featuring one-shot characters?

Tune in next week for office romance -- coworkers, support staff, and superiors.