DW Fanfic Recs: Gen
Dec. 1st, 2006 01:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mllelaurelThe list has gotten to be on the long side, so I'm splitting it up.
Gen
18 Seconds, by Kate
The banana groves of Villengaard are fantastic – there's no other way to describe them. Against the burnt-out shell of the factory (the brickwork crushed into the ground to make perfect drainage), there is row after row of trees, swaying gently in the breeze.
The definitive fic in the 'what did the Doctor do, when he left briefly at the end of Rose?' category. The best way I can describe it is by saying it feels *real*. I believe in the things he does and the people he meets, and I love how they bring him back in the end. (Maaaaybe some Nine/Rose if you squint)
(Alt Link)
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blame the sun (no sun of mine), by Nostalgia
"That sun of yours," he says, standing in the light, eyes closed. "I've seen it blow up, I've seen it ignite from dust, I've seen it send you lot into hiding. And the thing is, it's not even that impressive as a star. It's not big, it's not heavy, it doesn't really do anything all that interesting. But without it, you wouldn't even be here. Which means I wouldn't be here." He turns and moves to hop onto the desk and sit next to her. "I should blame the sun, really."
Ten. Yvonne. AU off "Army of Ghosts." Ten's worst nightmare, or at least damn close. This fic disturbed the hell out of me, and yes, I count that as a good thing. Bottled here is all the emotional, scary, intense potential "Army of Ghosts" had, and which "Doomsday" failed to live up to. (Ten/Yvonne)
[Alt Link]
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[*]The Crime of the Centuries, by lizbee
"So," he said, "we find out when they first appeared--"
"--Go back to that point--"
"--And save history from a series of renegade timeships."
"Yes." Romana smiled. "Then I thought we might steal it."
"I was hoping you'd say that," said Jack.
So, we have Jack and Romana travelling the universe together. Which in a good writer's hands is enough incentive to read. But that's not all! We also get Ten and Martha, the Time Agency, and an Ood rebellion. What more could you ask for?
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Decanted Memories, by amberite
The Doctor's face starts to take on a cast of grave concentration. "Don't wander off," he bites out between his teeth. "Her inner structures are part of her telepathic field -- they remap to us -- and right now they're incredibly unstable. The slightest stray thought out of the backs of your heads could pop into being."
Amberite is easily one of the best writers - possibly the best - when it comes to writing mindscapes, and in a fic that's all about memory and reality made manifest through thought, it really, really shows. This fic also contains one of the most intriguing treatments of Jack's missing years I've ever read, and absolutely fantastic characterization of the Doctor, Jack and Rose. (some Nine/Jack/Rose)
[Alt Link]
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Doctor Who and the Board Game of Death, by Nostalgia and Edithmatilda
“I’ve learned that capitalism is wrong and I will never ever do it again. Now sell the fucking stations,” said Fitz.
Fitz and Anji learn why it's never a good idea to play Monopoly with the Doctor. Lily learns why it's never a good idea to drink while reading fic.
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Drose, by Minion
The Doctor looked at the top of the list of new stories. The synopsis of the first one read: "summery: it is Time 4 a new adveture in the caribean and the tardis crashes int he wrong Place agian. Drose. i suk at summeries p;us i posted this at 3 in teh morning and have Dislexia and my cat just died and o yah i didnt use a beated reader, is that okey? PLS PLS PLS R&R!!!!!!!!!!!! or my ded cat will atack u!" He looked at Rose. "I hate to say it, but that isn't even the worst summary I've ever read."
Many excellent reasons why though shalt not moosh ship names should be the eleventh commandment. Now with a lovely, snarky Ten and Rose. (Mentions of pairings, both het and slash)
(Alt Link)
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Duck Day Afternoon, by Doyle
A coffee shop, she told herself, was a bit like a park. An indoors park, that served coffee, and didn’t have swings. But she picked one that at least had a children’s area, and Annie was soon safely enclosed in a paddling pool full of squashy plastic balls. “I went to a whole planet like this once,” Rose told her, holding a red ball in front of her nose. Annie lunged for it, gurgling. Must be nice to have the one thing you wanted most in the world be a little toy, and right there for grabbing. “Only the balls, they turned out to really be aliens – or different bits of one really big alien, I can’t remember – but anyway, you should’ve seen the Doctor bounce around trying to talk to them.” Annie closed her mouth around her new favourite thing, not the slightest bit interested in the Doctor or the planet of the bouncy things whose name she’d forgotten. “I’ll tell you more about it when you’re older,” Rose said.
Lots of fics deal with Rose moving on and adjusting to life in her new universe. This is the story of a Rose who's already adjusted. Sweet and refreshingly angst free, and I would hope things really went like this for her. (Some Jake/Mickey)
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Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Woman I Learned from Humans (This Was Not a Good Idea), by Calapine
“Oh. Good.” She downed the rest of her tea. “It’s Earth, isn’t it? I sort of adopted it, even more than usual after… after the thing, and I’ve picked up all these bad habits and terrible ideas!” She buried her head in her hands with a loud sob. “I’m a terrible woman! I’ve even lost my sense of direction! I’m old, old-fashioned and clichéd and…and…I’ve got a cat! I’m a crazy cat-lady living in an old police box.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Honestly I’m just going to put this down to post-regeneration trauma.”
Ok, I admit it, I have a weakness for girl!Doctor stories. There's no good reason why such a regeneration couldn't happen, and through it all, the Doctor remains his (now her) lovely self, rather than becoming a stereotypical anything. Here, the Doctor seeks the help of an old friend. Hey, if I wanted to learn more about women, I'd go to Sarah too.
(Alt Link)
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[*]Five Times the Doctor Made it Better, Just a Little, by lightgetsin
“You’re going to help me?” Jack asked.
“Sure,” said the Doctor. “It’s on my to do list – just put it there. Right after refitting the horologous flux control nexus and preventing that twenty-second century American idiot from spreading marshmallow peeps across the galaxy in the first human Diaspora.”
This story gets across the very things that make the Doctor so wonderful, with lovely characterization of both him and those around him. It also never fails to make me grin.
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It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses an Eye-stalk, by lizbee
The Black Dalek patted his arm with its plunger.
"I! Wanted! To! Go! Into! Plumbing!" it said.
Craaaaaaack! "Doomsday" didn't happen like this. More's the pity. Not giving anything else away. Go read!
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Jokes I May Have Misremembered, by Fahye
He makes one last trip before he contacts Torchwood; or rather, he makes tiny trips, hundreds of them, leaping blindly from planet to planet and century to century, leaving the same message scattered everywhere he can. Cards tucked into books, graffiti on walls. Three lines.
Doctor. Rose.
Cardiff, 2006.
- JH
He travels and travels until the jetlag would have killed anyone else, until he can feel the time sickness shredding his sanity, and then he aims himself at the last clue he’s got and pulls back on the throttle.
Jack, between "Parting of the Ways" and Torchwood. The inside of his head may not be pretty, but Fahye gets it bang-on.
(Alt Link)
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[*]Looked up in Perfect Silence at the Stars, by Doyle
“If he’d left me on Earth,” Sarah said, “if he’d had time to take me home, like he’d meant to, before he got dragged back here… everything would have been different. My whole life.”
What if the Doctor had taken Sarah with him to Gallifrey? The girl reporter and the President Elect, in the final days of the Time War. This fic is quietly haunting, with keen insight on both Sarah and Romana, and the very quiet makes for all the greater a punch.
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Lost Luggage and Lost Souls, by Nemo the Everbeing
The author says it best in her (?) summary: "Because listing bus stations as something you hate just begs writers to put you there. The Seventh Doctor and Ace join an odd cast of characters in time to get held hostage, and the Doctor remembers why he prefers saving worlds to smaller crises."
This fic is a rare gem, containing interesting, three-dimensional OCs and an honest-to-god meaty plot, as well as a fabulous Seven and Ace. I know there's no quote, but I'm trying to recommend this fic without spoiling it.
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One Horrid Thing That Never Happened to the Doctor, by Nostalgia
This was it, wasn't it? Jackie Tyler was his nemesis in low-cut Victoriana. He'd thought showing her the Earth blowing up might give her a bit of perspective, but she'd just yawned and said it looked more impressive on the telly. And then she'd nicked half his chips.
What do monsters fear? The Doctor. What does the Doctor fear? Jackie Tyler! As well he should. (Bits of Jackie/Nine, though not if the Doctor has any say in it)
[Alt Link]
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Regrets, by wmr
"Some time in your future you’re going to think I’ve betrayed you."
The Doctor does the one thing he *can* do for Jack, after "Parting of the Ways". ...Damn, I want that reunion now.
(Alt Link)
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Something Like Moebius, by Doyle
"Ma'am?" Jack said. No reply. A little louder he said, "Ma'am? It's after five. My family's going to be expecting me home."
She didn't answer.
"I'm very sorry for what I did," he added dutifully. "Both the holo thing and everything else, including the stuff I don't think you know ab… let's just say I'm sorry for everything and I've learned a valuable lesson of some kind and I'll never do it again. Also, that thing you've done with your hair is very flattering."
Baaaaaaby Jack! An adorable, snarky, bratty, *resourceful* baby Jack, whom I want to take home and cuddle forever.
(Alt Link)
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Sure As Eggs Is Eggs, by Doyle
The Raxacoricofallopatorian behind the front desk looked askance at the three of them as they entered the reception - at least, the Doctor assumed that was what that tilt of its massive head meant. Still, he was perfectly used to funny looks, especially when he was carrying around a large egg with a bobble hat on top.
"Hello," he said. "I'm the Doctor. This is Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, and this," he put the egg on the desk, balancing it against the computer screen, "is an egg."
The receptionist looked at it. Then he - or she - looked at the Doctor. Then he or she - possibly it - gave a very slow sideways blink.
"The hat's to stop her tentacles from getting cold," he said helpfully.
I generally don't jump up and down, squealing "OMG, cutest fic ever!'. If I did, however, this would be the story I'd make the exception for. After "Boom Town," Nine, Rose and Jack return the regressed Blon Slitheen to her home planet. And heaven help me, it's cute. A bit sad, too, knowing this is the trio's last adventure, which adds a nice edge to the already wonderful ending.
[Alt Link]
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The Emperor's Favourite, by Cathica
"This, in my humble opinion," the Doctor said, "is the most beautiful building in the universe."
"You could be right," Rose breathed.
A cathedral of spiderweb and diamond. A temple of cloisonne and jade. The sheer artistry that had gone into the creation of 'The Ocean of Stars' was staggering.
"No need to whisper, Rose. You're not in church."
Jack snorted. "Far from it. This place is legendary. I've always wanted to visit."
"A pleasure palace Jack Harkness has never seen?" she teased. "Kind of adds to the mystique."
The best description I can find for this fic is *lush*. The sensory detail comes right at you, creating an intoxicating image of an alien planet. Add to that a surprisingly intriguing and sympathetic original character, and you've got a winner. (Slight Nine/OFC; nascent Nine/Rose/Jack)
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The Last First Doctor, by amberite
Rose wonders if the contents of this storage bay are the result of some Time Agent party. If there is, ah, will be, a Time Agency in this universe. She decides it likely. Orangutan suits and slightly toxic mixed drinks would be just their sort of thing.
Rose coming into her own, after Doomsday. And boy howdy, does she ever! I'm not going to say much more, for fear of spoiling this fic, but I will say that reading it was a true sensual experience. Not in any way related to sex, but in the way you can see, smell and sense everything happening in it. Fictional immersion. Good stuff, that. Oh, and I'd be thoroughly remiss if I didn't mention the fabulous characterization of everyone here: Rose, family, friends, surprise guests...
(Alt Link)
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The Sins of Adam, by AND
There was nothing about flirtation and teasing now, Jack was all soldier. “That was a test, I’m sure of it. You’ve been watching and testing me ever since I came in the door. Do I pass?”
Winning the Doctor's trust is not an easy thing to do, especially if you're an only slightly-reformed conman. As far as I'm concerned, this is how it happened in canon. (Nascent Nine/Jack/Rose)
(Alt Link)
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[*]Standing Still, by Neva Caruso
"“I’m lucky to have it at all. He hated to have his photograph taken.” She crosses the room until she can look directly up at him. “It’s frightening, how much you look like him. Your face, the way you move...” She gazes for a long moment at the soldier in the picture, then back at the man next to her. “And that’s his coat you’re wearing, isn’t it?”
Jack and Estelle, meeting 'for the first time,' again. This is a story of beginnings and endings, but also of all the stuff in between. Soft, a little aching but hopeful all the same. It's the perfect prologue to "Small Worlds," as far as I'm concerned.
[Alt Link]
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Time After Time, by bibiliophile 1887
“You are willing to let her live through hell for the next twenty years, just so history will remain intact! Tell me Doctor, which of us is the villain?”
Six and Mel learn about the necessity of having to be the bad guys, sometimes. This fic broke me a little, but not so much that I can't appreciate the questions it raises, or the beautiful characterization of Mel (who doesn't generally fare so well, in either fic or canon).
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Tread But Lightly (In These Cruel Shoes), by LilacFree
Event One: dealt with. Flying the TARDIS? A piece of cake. Toting a Time Lord in a box? No problem.
The cliff didn’t stand a chance.
Nyssa, Tegan and the beginning of a beautiful friendship, woven through with all-too-apt fairy tales.
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[*]Twentyish Lies Told to Rose Tyler, by Nostalgia
7. My mother was called Penelope and my father's name was Ulysses. So as you can see I did pretty well not to inherit a name from either of them.
8. I'm an inventor from the future, from a time when the Earth is polluted beyond the capacity to sustain life. I built a time machine and went back to the 1960s with my granddaughter so that she could have a better life.
9. I am a fictional character from a long-running British television series. Let's hope we don't get cancelled!
The possibilities are endless, when it comes to the Doctor's origins.
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Work in Progress, by AND
"This is going to be painful, embarrassing, or dangerous, isn't it?" Martha asked suspiciously as the Doctor edged her forward into the spotlight circle on the floor. "Seems like everything you find fun is one of the three."
"Awww, why don't you trust me? Nothing happened to the people who just went there, did it? No teleports, no death rays, nothing. I told you, it's a nice, quiet art gallery. What could go wrong here?"
"That's what you said about the Spa World, and we ended up running from killer clones. That's what you said about Earth in the year 4 Billion, and there were Daleks. That's what you said about…"
The Doctor may not talk about his past companions, but he has his ways of making sure he never forgets them. This fic made me innordinately happy.
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Last Updated: Dec. 4, 2006. New additions marked with '[*]'.
Gen
18 Seconds, by Kate
The banana groves of Villengaard are fantastic – there's no other way to describe them. Against the burnt-out shell of the factory (the brickwork crushed into the ground to make perfect drainage), there is row after row of trees, swaying gently in the breeze.
The definitive fic in the 'what did the Doctor do, when he left briefly at the end of Rose?' category. The best way I can describe it is by saying it feels *real*. I believe in the things he does and the people he meets, and I love how they bring him back in the end. (Maaaaybe some Nine/Rose if you squint)
(Alt Link)
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blame the sun (no sun of mine), by Nostalgia
"That sun of yours," he says, standing in the light, eyes closed. "I've seen it blow up, I've seen it ignite from dust, I've seen it send you lot into hiding. And the thing is, it's not even that impressive as a star. It's not big, it's not heavy, it doesn't really do anything all that interesting. But without it, you wouldn't even be here. Which means I wouldn't be here." He turns and moves to hop onto the desk and sit next to her. "I should blame the sun, really."
Ten. Yvonne. AU off "Army of Ghosts." Ten's worst nightmare, or at least damn close. This fic disturbed the hell out of me, and yes, I count that as a good thing. Bottled here is all the emotional, scary, intense potential "Army of Ghosts" had, and which "Doomsday" failed to live up to. (Ten/Yvonne)
[Alt Link]
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[*]The Crime of the Centuries, by lizbee
"So," he said, "we find out when they first appeared--"
"--Go back to that point--"
"--And save history from a series of renegade timeships."
"Yes." Romana smiled. "Then I thought we might steal it."
"I was hoping you'd say that," said Jack.
So, we have Jack and Romana travelling the universe together. Which in a good writer's hands is enough incentive to read. But that's not all! We also get Ten and Martha, the Time Agency, and an Ood rebellion. What more could you ask for?
---
Decanted Memories, by amberite
The Doctor's face starts to take on a cast of grave concentration. "Don't wander off," he bites out between his teeth. "Her inner structures are part of her telepathic field -- they remap to us -- and right now they're incredibly unstable. The slightest stray thought out of the backs of your heads could pop into being."
Amberite is easily one of the best writers - possibly the best - when it comes to writing mindscapes, and in a fic that's all about memory and reality made manifest through thought, it really, really shows. This fic also contains one of the most intriguing treatments of Jack's missing years I've ever read, and absolutely fantastic characterization of the Doctor, Jack and Rose. (some Nine/Jack/Rose)
[Alt Link]
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Doctor Who and the Board Game of Death, by Nostalgia and Edithmatilda
“I’ve learned that capitalism is wrong and I will never ever do it again. Now sell the fucking stations,” said Fitz.
Fitz and Anji learn why it's never a good idea to play Monopoly with the Doctor. Lily learns why it's never a good idea to drink while reading fic.
---
Drose, by Minion
The Doctor looked at the top of the list of new stories. The synopsis of the first one read: "summery: it is Time 4 a new adveture in the caribean and the tardis crashes int he wrong Place agian. Drose. i suk at summeries p;us i posted this at 3 in teh morning and have Dislexia and my cat just died and o yah i didnt use a beated reader, is that okey? PLS PLS PLS R&R!!!!!!!!!!!! or my ded cat will atack u!" He looked at Rose. "I hate to say it, but that isn't even the worst summary I've ever read."
Many excellent reasons why though shalt not moosh ship names should be the eleventh commandment. Now with a lovely, snarky Ten and Rose. (Mentions of pairings, both het and slash)
(Alt Link)
---
Duck Day Afternoon, by Doyle
A coffee shop, she told herself, was a bit like a park. An indoors park, that served coffee, and didn’t have swings. But she picked one that at least had a children’s area, and Annie was soon safely enclosed in a paddling pool full of squashy plastic balls. “I went to a whole planet like this once,” Rose told her, holding a red ball in front of her nose. Annie lunged for it, gurgling. Must be nice to have the one thing you wanted most in the world be a little toy, and right there for grabbing. “Only the balls, they turned out to really be aliens – or different bits of one really big alien, I can’t remember – but anyway, you should’ve seen the Doctor bounce around trying to talk to them.” Annie closed her mouth around her new favourite thing, not the slightest bit interested in the Doctor or the planet of the bouncy things whose name she’d forgotten. “I’ll tell you more about it when you’re older,” Rose said.
Lots of fics deal with Rose moving on and adjusting to life in her new universe. This is the story of a Rose who's already adjusted. Sweet and refreshingly angst free, and I would hope things really went like this for her. (Some Jake/Mickey)
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Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Woman I Learned from Humans (This Was Not a Good Idea), by Calapine
“Oh. Good.” She downed the rest of her tea. “It’s Earth, isn’t it? I sort of adopted it, even more than usual after… after the thing, and I’ve picked up all these bad habits and terrible ideas!” She buried her head in her hands with a loud sob. “I’m a terrible woman! I’ve even lost my sense of direction! I’m old, old-fashioned and clichéd and…and…I’ve got a cat! I’m a crazy cat-lady living in an old police box.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Honestly I’m just going to put this down to post-regeneration trauma.”
Ok, I admit it, I have a weakness for girl!Doctor stories. There's no good reason why such a regeneration couldn't happen, and through it all, the Doctor remains his (now her) lovely self, rather than becoming a stereotypical anything. Here, the Doctor seeks the help of an old friend. Hey, if I wanted to learn more about women, I'd go to Sarah too.
(Alt Link)
---
[*]Five Times the Doctor Made it Better, Just a Little, by lightgetsin
“You’re going to help me?” Jack asked.
“Sure,” said the Doctor. “It’s on my to do list – just put it there. Right after refitting the horologous flux control nexus and preventing that twenty-second century American idiot from spreading marshmallow peeps across the galaxy in the first human Diaspora.”
This story gets across the very things that make the Doctor so wonderful, with lovely characterization of both him and those around him. It also never fails to make me grin.
---
It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses an Eye-stalk, by lizbee
The Black Dalek patted his arm with its plunger.
"I! Wanted! To! Go! Into! Plumbing!" it said.
Craaaaaaack! "Doomsday" didn't happen like this. More's the pity. Not giving anything else away. Go read!
---
Jokes I May Have Misremembered, by Fahye
He makes one last trip before he contacts Torchwood; or rather, he makes tiny trips, hundreds of them, leaping blindly from planet to planet and century to century, leaving the same message scattered everywhere he can. Cards tucked into books, graffiti on walls. Three lines.
Doctor. Rose.
Cardiff, 2006.
- JH
He travels and travels until the jetlag would have killed anyone else, until he can feel the time sickness shredding his sanity, and then he aims himself at the last clue he’s got and pulls back on the throttle.
Jack, between "Parting of the Ways" and Torchwood. The inside of his head may not be pretty, but Fahye gets it bang-on.
(Alt Link)
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[*]Looked up in Perfect Silence at the Stars, by Doyle
“If he’d left me on Earth,” Sarah said, “if he’d had time to take me home, like he’d meant to, before he got dragged back here… everything would have been different. My whole life.”
What if the Doctor had taken Sarah with him to Gallifrey? The girl reporter and the President Elect, in the final days of the Time War. This fic is quietly haunting, with keen insight on both Sarah and Romana, and the very quiet makes for all the greater a punch.
---
Lost Luggage and Lost Souls, by Nemo the Everbeing
The author says it best in her (?) summary: "Because listing bus stations as something you hate just begs writers to put you there. The Seventh Doctor and Ace join an odd cast of characters in time to get held hostage, and the Doctor remembers why he prefers saving worlds to smaller crises."
This fic is a rare gem, containing interesting, three-dimensional OCs and an honest-to-god meaty plot, as well as a fabulous Seven and Ace. I know there's no quote, but I'm trying to recommend this fic without spoiling it.
---
One Horrid Thing That Never Happened to the Doctor, by Nostalgia
This was it, wasn't it? Jackie Tyler was his nemesis in low-cut Victoriana. He'd thought showing her the Earth blowing up might give her a bit of perspective, but she'd just yawned and said it looked more impressive on the telly. And then she'd nicked half his chips.
What do monsters fear? The Doctor. What does the Doctor fear? Jackie Tyler! As well he should. (Bits of Jackie/Nine, though not if the Doctor has any say in it)
[Alt Link]
---
Regrets, by wmr
"Some time in your future you’re going to think I’ve betrayed you."
The Doctor does the one thing he *can* do for Jack, after "Parting of the Ways". ...Damn, I want that reunion now.
(Alt Link)
---
Something Like Moebius, by Doyle
"Ma'am?" Jack said. No reply. A little louder he said, "Ma'am? It's after five. My family's going to be expecting me home."
She didn't answer.
"I'm very sorry for what I did," he added dutifully. "Both the holo thing and everything else, including the stuff I don't think you know ab… let's just say I'm sorry for everything and I've learned a valuable lesson of some kind and I'll never do it again. Also, that thing you've done with your hair is very flattering."
Baaaaaaby Jack! An adorable, snarky, bratty, *resourceful* baby Jack, whom I want to take home and cuddle forever.
(Alt Link)
---
Sure As Eggs Is Eggs, by Doyle
The Raxacoricofallopatorian behind the front desk looked askance at the three of them as they entered the reception - at least, the Doctor assumed that was what that tilt of its massive head meant. Still, he was perfectly used to funny looks, especially when he was carrying around a large egg with a bobble hat on top.
"Hello," he said. "I'm the Doctor. This is Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, and this," he put the egg on the desk, balancing it against the computer screen, "is an egg."
The receptionist looked at it. Then he - or she - looked at the Doctor. Then he or she - possibly it - gave a very slow sideways blink.
"The hat's to stop her tentacles from getting cold," he said helpfully.
I generally don't jump up and down, squealing "OMG, cutest fic ever!'. If I did, however, this would be the story I'd make the exception for. After "Boom Town," Nine, Rose and Jack return the regressed Blon Slitheen to her home planet. And heaven help me, it's cute. A bit sad, too, knowing this is the trio's last adventure, which adds a nice edge to the already wonderful ending.
[Alt Link]
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The Emperor's Favourite, by Cathica
"This, in my humble opinion," the Doctor said, "is the most beautiful building in the universe."
"You could be right," Rose breathed.
A cathedral of spiderweb and diamond. A temple of cloisonne and jade. The sheer artistry that had gone into the creation of 'The Ocean of Stars' was staggering.
"No need to whisper, Rose. You're not in church."
Jack snorted. "Far from it. This place is legendary. I've always wanted to visit."
"A pleasure palace Jack Harkness has never seen?" she teased. "Kind of adds to the mystique."
The best description I can find for this fic is *lush*. The sensory detail comes right at you, creating an intoxicating image of an alien planet. Add to that a surprisingly intriguing and sympathetic original character, and you've got a winner. (Slight Nine/OFC; nascent Nine/Rose/Jack)
---
The Last First Doctor, by amberite
Rose wonders if the contents of this storage bay are the result of some Time Agent party. If there is, ah, will be, a Time Agency in this universe. She decides it likely. Orangutan suits and slightly toxic mixed drinks would be just their sort of thing.
Rose coming into her own, after Doomsday. And boy howdy, does she ever! I'm not going to say much more, for fear of spoiling this fic, but I will say that reading it was a true sensual experience. Not in any way related to sex, but in the way you can see, smell and sense everything happening in it. Fictional immersion. Good stuff, that. Oh, and I'd be thoroughly remiss if I didn't mention the fabulous characterization of everyone here: Rose, family, friends, surprise guests...
(Alt Link)
---
The Sins of Adam, by AND
There was nothing about flirtation and teasing now, Jack was all soldier. “That was a test, I’m sure of it. You’ve been watching and testing me ever since I came in the door. Do I pass?”
Winning the Doctor's trust is not an easy thing to do, especially if you're an only slightly-reformed conman. As far as I'm concerned, this is how it happened in canon. (Nascent Nine/Jack/Rose)
(Alt Link)
---
[*]Standing Still, by Neva Caruso
"“I’m lucky to have it at all. He hated to have his photograph taken.” She crosses the room until she can look directly up at him. “It’s frightening, how much you look like him. Your face, the way you move...” She gazes for a long moment at the soldier in the picture, then back at the man next to her. “And that’s his coat you’re wearing, isn’t it?”
Jack and Estelle, meeting 'for the first time,' again. This is a story of beginnings and endings, but also of all the stuff in between. Soft, a little aching but hopeful all the same. It's the perfect prologue to "Small Worlds," as far as I'm concerned.
[Alt Link]
---
Time After Time, by bibiliophile 1887
“You are willing to let her live through hell for the next twenty years, just so history will remain intact! Tell me Doctor, which of us is the villain?”
Six and Mel learn about the necessity of having to be the bad guys, sometimes. This fic broke me a little, but not so much that I can't appreciate the questions it raises, or the beautiful characterization of Mel (who doesn't generally fare so well, in either fic or canon).
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Tread But Lightly (In These Cruel Shoes), by LilacFree
Event One: dealt with. Flying the TARDIS? A piece of cake. Toting a Time Lord in a box? No problem.
The cliff didn’t stand a chance.
Nyssa, Tegan and the beginning of a beautiful friendship, woven through with all-too-apt fairy tales.
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[*]Twentyish Lies Told to Rose Tyler, by Nostalgia
7. My mother was called Penelope and my father's name was Ulysses. So as you can see I did pretty well not to inherit a name from either of them.
8. I'm an inventor from the future, from a time when the Earth is polluted beyond the capacity to sustain life. I built a time machine and went back to the 1960s with my granddaughter so that she could have a better life.
9. I am a fictional character from a long-running British television series. Let's hope we don't get cancelled!
The possibilities are endless, when it comes to the Doctor's origins.
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Work in Progress, by AND
"This is going to be painful, embarrassing, or dangerous, isn't it?" Martha asked suspiciously as the Doctor edged her forward into the spotlight circle on the floor. "Seems like everything you find fun is one of the three."
"Awww, why don't you trust me? Nothing happened to the people who just went there, did it? No teleports, no death rays, nothing. I told you, it's a nice, quiet art gallery. What could go wrong here?"
"That's what you said about the Spa World, and we ended up running from killer clones. That's what you said about Earth in the year 4 Billion, and there were Daleks. That's what you said about…"
The Doctor may not talk about his past companions, but he has his ways of making sure he never forgets them. This fic made me innordinately happy.
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Last Updated: Dec. 4, 2006. New additions marked with '[*]'.
