The Lyorn's Den

Note 1: I'm way behind on my reading. Everything I rec here has probably been rec'd all over the internet and back already. But I can live with not being avant-garde.
Note 2: If you want ratings, or warnings for spoilers or anything else, you'll find them on the fic.
Note 3: Spoilers for the stories should be masked out in pale grey. If you see this sentence, it did not work. Highlight to read.

***
Top of the heap

( Kaydee Falls: The Rose of Jericho (TW) )
***
Recommended

( JJPOR: Ground Rules (DW) )
( Lurky McLurklurk: The Assistant (DW) )
( Cyus: Time Has Set Its Maggot (TW) )
( Laytoncolt: Timeless (TW) )
( szm: Conversations With the Dead (DW/TW) )
( Poisontaster: All Things in Time (TW) )
( Sam Storyteller: In Geneva (DW) )
( Prochytes: Power Struggle (TW) )
( EponymousRose: Comes the Rain (DW) )
( Athraphoenix: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Surviving a Dalek Invasion )
( Sahiya: The Rest of the Story (DW) )

Heaps of fanfic this year.

Books:

Jun 28th:
Richard Bachmann (Stephen King): "The Long Walk"
Bill Bryson: "The Lost Continent - Travels in Small Town America"
Bernard Cornwell: "Vagabond"
Len Deighton: "The Ipcress File"
Len Deighton: "Funeral in Berlin"
Ben Goldacre: "Bad Science"
John Grisham: "A Painted House"
Charles Stross: "The Family Trade"

Apr 16th:
Dan Abnett: "The Story of Martha" (Doctor Who tie-in)
Peter Anghelides: "Pack Animals" (Torchwood tie-in)
David Llewellyn: "Trace Memory" (Torchwood tie-in)
Gary Russell: "The Torchwood Archives" (Sourcebook)

Jan 11th:
Patrick Rothfuss: "The Name of the Wind"

Fanfic:

Nov 30th:
Aeshna: "...And Things That Go Bump in the Night" (Sarah Jane Adventures/Torchwood)
Dira Sudis: "Get Loved, Make More, Try to Stay Alive" (Torchwood)
Demotu: "Dawn, broken" (Torchwood)
Etharei: "Guard Them, and Him Within" (Torchwood)
Fairest1: "Poor Little Dark Lord" (Harry Potter/Chick Tracts)
Gatewaygirl: "Lighting the Dark" (Harry Potter)
Gatewaygirl: "The Auror, the Potions Expert, and the Cult of Eris" (Harry Potter)
Gunbunny: "Untitled NaNoWriMo 2007" (Torchwood/Indiana Jones/Highlander)
Golden Orange: "The Waking Terror" (Doctor Who/Cthulhu)
Invisible Lift: "Adam" (Torchwood)
Metz: "This Other Darkness" (Torchwood)
Neadods: "A Question of Jurisdiction" (Torchwood/Sarah Jane Adventures)
Paperclipbitch: "How to Use Paradoxes for Fun and Profit" (Doctor Who)
Sam Storyteller: "The Theory of Two Centres" (Torchwood)
Schildkroet: "Fairytale" (Doctor Who)
St. Aurafina: "Never Have I Ever" (Doctor Who/Torchwood/Iron Man)

Oct 6th:
Airie: "Daemononlogy" (Doctor Who)
Cranberry Crash: "The Rotfang Conspiracy Files" (Harry Potter)
Enemyfrigate: "The Phoenix' Nest" (Torchwood)
Honor H.: "Man-Whores and Wealthy Women" (Doctor Who)
Lizbee: "Identity Politics" (Doctor Who)
Madder Rose: "Jack Harkness, Super Temp" (Torchwood)
Neadods: "The Amazing Team TARDIS" (Doctor Who)
Paperclipbitch: "Whatever Pays The Wages" (Doctor Who/Torchwood)
Paperclipbitch: "Far Off, Like A Dull Rumour Of Some Other War" (Torchwood)
Prochytes: "The Persistence of Memory" (Torchwood/Heroes)
Sabethea: "Being True (To Yourself)" (Harry Potter)
Such Heights: "I Heard a Whisper (The Way I Might Have Been)" (Torchwood)
Tree and Leaf: "The Blue Flower" (Harry Potter)
X-Tricks: "Days That Were" (Doctor Who)

Oct 26th:
Lanna Michaels: "Fifteen Things You Should Remember While Part Of A Massive Government Conspiracy." (Torchwood)

Aug 10th:
Antelope: "Scratch" (Torchwood)
DK Valentine: "Hidden Past" (Torchwood)
Eledhwen: "Two immortals walk into a bar..." (Pirates of the Caribbean/Torchwood)
Jinxed Wood: "Gone Fishin'" (Highlander/Torchwood)
JJPOR: "Scareship" (Torchwood)
JJPOR: "Last Man Standing" (Torchwood)
Odsbodkins: "Death and the Definitely-Not-a-Maiden" (Torchwood)
Paperclipbitch: "Acquaint Me With Your Fuck-Ups" (Torchwood)
Penknife: "West Palm Beach, 1927" (Pirates of the Caribbean)
RobinC: "The Children of Time Will Gather" (Doctor Who)
Scythe the Wicked: "Like Death" (Torchwood)
Schildkroet: "To Wander, Between the Stars" (Doctor Who/Torchwood)
Salieri: "Utopia" (Firefly)
Sam Storyteller: "Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodies" (Stargate Atlantis/Torchwood)
Sam Storyteller: "If We Haven't Got Nightingales..." (Torchwood)
Thaddeusfavor: "Baron Saturday Visits Cardiff" (Torchwood)

Jul 20th:
Doyle: "The Great Bikini Incident (Key to Time Remix)" (Buffy/Doctor Who)
Definehome: "A Dirty Great Monster" (Torchwood)
Doyle: "Looked Up in Perfect Silence at the Stars" (Doctor Who)
Joolz: "What Doesn't Kill You" (Doctor Who)
Jewels: "I Dream of Chcolate Fish" (Torchwood)
Joon: "Rock Bottom, Going Up" (Torchwood)
Jewels: "Potentiality" (Torchwood)
K. Haldane: "Trespassers Will Be Persecuted" (Torchwood/Spooks)
Kali & rm: "The Spectacular Catastrophe of Your Endless Childhood" (Torchwood)
X-Tricks: "What Lies Within" (Torchwood)

Jul 13th:
rm and kalichan: "Harbour" (Torchwood)

Apr 3rd:
Aeshna: Small Wonders (Torchwood)
Becky H.: Executioner's Promise (Harry Potter)
Etherati: The Atheist in your Foxhole (Doctor Who)
Jadesfire: Moonrise (Torchwood)
Mgunby: Just Another Bloody Day at Torchwood (Torchwood)
Marcus Rowland: A Gory Fate (Buffy/Gor)
MeiLin: Valiant (Doctor Who)

Jan 11th:
Definehome: Now We're All Going Under (Torchwood)

Movies:

Nov. 29th:
"The Boat That Rocked"

Jun 28th:
"Terminator: Salvation"

TV:

Jul 15th:
More about CoE, expectations, and Hollywood

Jul 13th:
My thoughts on TW: Children of the Earth

My fic:

Im Land der Blinden (Perry Rhodan fanfic) Teaser und Link.
Prolog (Falling towards the future), original fic.

Older recs, reviews and general media nattering:

2008
2007
2006

Note 1: I'm way behind on my reading. Everything I rec here has probably been rec'd all over the internet and back already. But I can live with not being avant-garde. Nothing rec'd for TW here considers Series 3 yet.
Note 2: If you want ratings, or warnings for spoilers or anything else, you'll find them on the fic.
Note 3: Spoilers for the stories should be masked out in pale grey. If you see this sentence, it did not work.. Highlight to read.

***

Top of the heap

This was hard to decide this time, because I had not clear favourite. I went with the story that has the most meat.

( Madder Rose: Jack Harkness, Super Temp (TW) )
***

Recommended

( Neadods: The Amazing Team TARDIS (DW) )
( Honor H.: Man-Whores and Wealthy Women (DW) )
( Paperclipbitch: Far Off, Like A Dull Rumour Of Some Other War (TW) )
( Paperclipbitch: Whatever Pays The Wages (DW/TW) )
( Prochytes: The Persistence of Memory (TW/Heroes) )
( Airie: Daemononlogy (DW) )
( Cranberry Crash: The Rotfang Conspiracy Files (HP) )
( Such Heights: I Heard a Whisper (The Way I Might Have Been) (TW) )
***

Short and shiny

More spicy than sweet this time...

( Lizbee: Identity Politics (DW) )
( X-Tricks: Days That Were (DW) )
( Enemyfrigate: The Phoenix' Nest (TW) )
( Sabethea: Being True (To Yourself) (HP) )
***

From the backlog

( Tree and Leaf: The Blue Flower (HP) )

I've been reading a lot of fanfic lately. It's too hot to do much else.

Note 1: I'm still way behind on my reading. Everything I rec here has probably been rec'd all over the internet and back already. But I can live with not being avant-garde.
Note 2: If you want ratings, or warnings for spoilers or anything else, you'll (usually) find them on the fic.

***

Top of the heap

( Schildkroet: To Wander, Between the Stars (DW/TW) )
( Thaddeusfavor: Baron Saturday Visits Cardiff (TW) )
***

Recommended

( Salieri: Utopia (FF) )
( RobinC: The Children of Time Will Gather (DW) )
( Scythe the Wicked: Like Death (TW) )
( Paperclipbitch: Acquaint Me With Your Fuck-Ups (TW) )
( DK Valentine: Hidden Past (TW) )
( JJPOR: Scareship (TW) )
( JJPOR: Last Man Standing (TW) )
( Antelope: Scratch (TW) )
( Odsbodkins: Death and the Definitely-Not-a-Maiden (TW) )
***

Short and sweet

Those have a little less substance than I usually like, but are shiny little things

( Penknife: West Palm Beach, 1927 (PotC) )
( Eledhwen: Two immortals walk into a bar... (PotC/TW) )
( Sam Storyteller: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodies (SGA/TW) )
( Jinxed Wood: Gone Fishin' (HL/TW) )
***

From the backlog

( Sam Storyteller: If We Haven't Got Nightingales... (TW) )

Note 1: I'm way behind on my reading. Everything I rec here has probably been rec'd all over the internet and back already. But I can live with not being avantgarde.
Note 2: If you want ratings, or warnings for spoilers or anything else, you'll find them on the fic.

Top of the heap

Title: Small Wonders (Also on Teaspoon)
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: aeshna_uk
Length: ca. 3,400 words
What it's about? Jack and Tosh drive out in the small hours to collect an alien. They talk, get rained on and get the alien.
Good things: This is happy!fic for me. Tosh/Jack friendship, good dialogue, good characterisation, mere hints at the Year That Never Was, Tosh loving her job, and a marvellous alien.
Not so good things: None.


Runners-up

Title: Valiant
Fandom: Doctor Who
Author: MeiLin
Length: ca 39,000 words
What it's about? "The story of the Year that Wasn't, from the viewpoints of almost everyone involved" (plus an OC or two).
Good things: It's long, it's gen, it's action/adventure. What I liked best about it is that "everyone involved" actually works towards ending the Master's reign, each in their own way, and every person's contribution is relevant. Also, stuff gets blown up, and there is running.
Not so good things: This started out as a series of short stories, and it shows. The pacing is occasionally weak, dramatic tension uneven, and the OC does not develop as well as I would have liked her to -- she starts out kind of interesting, but annoying, and stays that way, when more throughout development and painting in less broad strokes would have created a very good character. On a minor note, the Master is drawn as seriously un-fun evil, which is not my favorite portrayal, but it is convincing and consistent.

Title: Executioner's Promise
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: becky_writing (Becky H.)
Length: ca. 1000 words
What it's about?
Good things: I like morbid, and I like the character chemistry. Also, very well written, sparse and cool.
Not so good things: It's short, and while it fits its form well, I suffer from a lack of longer stories recently.

Title: A Gory Fate
Fandom: Buffy/Gor
Author: Marcus Rowland
Length: ca. 1,200
What it's about? It starts with an UFO parked in front of the bar where Xander is working... (more would be spoiling.)
Good things: Hilarious. Dry, dead pan, and if you ever rolled your eyes about the Gor books, wish fulfillment.
Not so good things: If you do not know the Gor book and don't have an idea about Buffy Season 7 finale, this won't make any sense.

Title: The Atheist in your Foxhole
Fandom: Doctor Who
Author: Etherati
Length: ca 1,400 words
What it's about? The Eighth Doctor goes to war.
Good things: Interesting and well-played out conflict between Time Lord society's values, the Doctor's personal morals, and the needs of the Time war. Told in details and dialogue, which gives it a strong presence.
Not so good things: Short? Not much happening? Still, another story that fits its length, and I shouldn't hold a general complaint against it.

Title: Just Another Bloody Day at Torchwood
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: mgunby
Length: ca. 9,600 words
What it's about? Aliens are landing, and Torchwood has to deal with the situation.
Good things: There is an absolute dearth of Torchwood stories in which Torchwood does what it is supposed to do: Deal with aliens. This is a long story that is about nothing but dealing with aliens. In a peaceful way.
Not so good things: I'm not fully happy with the characterisation, but in this outwardly-focused story it's a minor issue.


From the backlog:

Title: Moonrise
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: jadesfire2808
Length: ca 25,000 words
What it's about? It's 1969, and Torchwood has noticed that artefacts are being stolen from abandoned Torchwood House in Scotland.
Why read it? First, historical Torchwood. Second, it's suspenseful with a nice, gloomy atmosphere. Slightly understated emotionally (when compared to most fanfic). Jack dying is not treated in a cavalier manner, which makes a nice change. Good and realistic OCs.
Not so good things: Not really. A little slow-moving?

Not much this year, I have been lazy.

Books:

Dec 12th:
Five books you do not want to introduce your intermediate level English class to.

Jun 25th:
Douglas Adams: "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"
Steven Brust: "Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille"
Emma Bull: "Bone Dance"

Apr 13th:
Jaqueline Carey: "Kushiel's Scion"
Scott Lynch: "The Lies of Locke Lamora"
Kit Whitfield: "Bareback"

Fanfic:

Dec 4th:
Apiphile: "Boiling a Frog" (Torchwood)
Becky H.: "Never Doing That Again" (Doctor Who)
Doyle: "Just Impediment" (Doctor Who/Blackadder II)
Jadesfire: "Be Not Without Hope" (Doctor Who)
Tree and Leaf: "Tell Beauty How She Blasteth" (Lord Peter Wimsey)

Aug 7th:
Camilla Sandman: "Today's Not Over Yet" (Doctor Who)
Laura Walker and perryvic:"This Is How The Universe Ends" (Discworld/Torchwood)
Snowhiteliar: "Sunshine on Skin" (Doctor Who)

Movies:

Aug 31st:
"X-Files: "I Want To Believe"
"The Dark Knight"

My fic:

Malenka [1/2], [2/2]

Older stuff:

2007
2006

First things first, the new trailer for Spare Time Images' Highlander fan film is online now here.

( News from the to-do list )

I've also been reading fanfic and found something to rec:

Title: This Is How The Universe Ends
Fandom: Discworld/Torchwood
Author: googlebrat (Laura Walker) and perryvic
Length: 3900 words
What it's about? Death comes for the universe, but he can't do so while someone's still alive, and he cannot take Jack...
Why read it? It's brilliant and funny and sweet and strange and downright philosophical.
Why not read it? Not very good as a Pratchett pastiche.

Title: Sunshine on Skin
Fandom: Doctor Who
Author: snowwhiteliar
Length: 2300 words
What it's about? It's a coda to "Gridlock", using the "Face of Boe" line from the end of "Last of the Time Lords".
Why read it? It gives a reasonable explanation to the whole idea, plus it is full of hope and wonder, and like going out into the first sunny day of early spring.
Why not read it? You hated that line even more than I did and refuse to contemplate it further.

Title: Today's Not Over Yet
Fandom: Doctor Who
Author: misscam (Camilla Sandman)
Length: 1000 words
What it's about? The Doctor, on the eve of the last battle of the Time War.
Why read it? It's a very in character answer to "What would you do if you knew the world would end tomorrow", associative and jumpy like time travel, and full of joy and appreciation for the world.
Why not read it? You like your stories with a little more plot.

Books:

Oct 21st:
Jo Walton: "The King's Peace / The King's Name"
Rosemary Sutcliff: "The Eagle of the Ninth"

Aug 6th:
Katherine Kerr: "Polar City Blues"
Patricia Briggs: "When Demons Walk"

Jul 28th:
J.K. Rowling: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"

Mar 25th:
Jane Huber: "60 Hikes within 60 miles - San Francisco"

Feb 11th:
Carrie Vaughn: "Kitty Goes to Washington"
Josephine Tey: "Daughter of Time"
Neil Gaiman: "Fragile Things"

Jan 23rd:
Emma Bull: "Falcon"
Simon Green: "Deathstalker: Legacy"
C.J. Cherryh: "40.000 in Gehenna"
Len Deighton: "Spy Story"
Alex Kava: "The Soul Catcher"
Michael Connelly: "The Last Coyote"
Laurie Graham: "Future Homemakers of America"

Comics:

Oct 21st:
Terry Moore: "Strangers in Paradise XIX"
Stan Sakai: "Usagi Yojimbo XXI -- The Mother of Mountains"

Fanfic:

Feb 20th:
daegaer: "California Dreaming" (Good Omens/BtVS)
hackthis "If You're the Answer, What's the Question?" (BSG)

Movies:

Nov 11th:
"Stardust"

Jun 11th:
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Ocean's 13"

legionseagle's offering for Pixel Stained Technopeasant Day: MYTH-MAKING AND MONOPOLIES - Reflections on patent misconceptions over the years

sigune writes in hp_essays on Snape in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Some internet gold diggers believe that they have found a way to profit off other people's fanfic:
metafandom is keeping track of the kerfuffle, the community life_wo_fanlib shares snark and outrage, Fandom Wank isn't far behind. Making Light has two posts and lots of comments and fun links on it, and Henry Jenkins has an insightful essay. While lizbee ventures into slash territory and comes out covered with fame and virtual cookies.

In the wake of this, cesperanza says that Fanfic is not proven illegal, and it would be cleverer for fans not to say so.

legionseagle has an issue with the whole concept of illegality when it comes to fanfic.

***

In other news, nihilistic_kid answers questions about one of his books in his sister's college English class and loses any illusion he might have had about reading comprehension. In the comments, shalanna tells a similar story.

***

About me: Working. Sleeping. Reading LJ in between.

Here's a story that crosses over two of my favourite fandoms. It's about one of my favourite characters. It gives him a background I like. And it's written just badly enough to be no fun to read.

I hate it when that happens.

ETA: repaired link.