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I have two goals here, one of which is to mark for my own purposes a few most outstanding/memorable stories, and the other of which is that Josh sometimes enjoys reading stories I like but doesn't have time to wade through hundreds of thousands of words.
Thus, top recommendations, fandoms I think Josh will know, or doesn't need to know:
Revenge and Reversal: or, the Further Adventures of Jack Rogers, the Last of Barrett's Privateers. By the_alchemist. This is for me the standout story of the year, in that I never ever would have thought of this fandom but it's got great characters and plotting and, I don't know, simultaneously has many of the best aspects of a work of original fiction and a work of fanfiction. 17K words. Recommended even if you don't read fanfiction. (If you've never heard the song, try here.)
Etch out a Future of Your Own Design. By thefourthvine. Real Genius slash, 13K words. Career angst. (Also explicit sex.)
Waking was probably the best of the fairy tales, and turns out to be by Dira Sudis. (I try to ignore authors, to pretend I'm reading pre-reveal, and in this case I must have managed to block it out entirely because I was actually surprised when I went to her lj to see what she had written and realized I had read it.) 8700 words, warning for someone crawling through thorns.
Who You Are. By Reading Redhead, 1300 words. Yuletide this year was so much about Leviathan squee for me, these three short stories totally win on joy per word. Le Sentiment de Vivre and Immodest Proposals also by Reading Redhead.
And a couple more, fandoms Josh doesn't know:
A clear glass window, at a sea dawn. By lionpyh. Curse of Chalion, 10K words. I am a sucker for longer stories - I like plot - and the writing here is lovely.
As Winds That Blow Against a Star. By mithen. Emily of New Moon, Emily/Dean, post-canon. 4700 words. I just really enjoyed seeing this pairing done so well.
Thus, top recommendations, fandoms I think Josh will know, or doesn't need to know:
Revenge and Reversal: or, the Further Adventures of Jack Rogers, the Last of Barrett's Privateers. By the_alchemist. This is for me the standout story of the year, in that I never ever would have thought of this fandom but it's got great characters and plotting and, I don't know, simultaneously has many of the best aspects of a work of original fiction and a work of fanfiction. 17K words. Recommended even if you don't read fanfiction. (If you've never heard the song, try here.)
Etch out a Future of Your Own Design. By thefourthvine. Real Genius slash, 13K words. Career angst. (Also explicit sex.)
Waking was probably the best of the fairy tales, and turns out to be by Dira Sudis. (I try to ignore authors, to pretend I'm reading pre-reveal, and in this case I must have managed to block it out entirely because I was actually surprised when I went to her lj to see what she had written and realized I had read it.) 8700 words, warning for someone crawling through thorns.
Who You Are. By Reading Redhead, 1300 words. Yuletide this year was so much about Leviathan squee for me, these three short stories totally win on joy per word. Le Sentiment de Vivre and Immodest Proposals also by Reading Redhead.
And a couple more, fandoms Josh doesn't know:
A clear glass window, at a sea dawn. By lionpyh. Curse of Chalion, 10K words. I am a sucker for longer stories - I like plot - and the writing here is lovely.
As Winds That Blow Against a Star. By mithen. Emily of New Moon, Emily/Dean, post-canon. 4700 words. I just really enjoyed seeing this pairing done so well.
