River Fic Recs

[promethia_tenk]

So doctoreleven  is hosting a fic rec day this week, and I figured I'd gather my links together in preparation.  Hey, somebody's gotta curate this stuff.  And on that note, owlsie  is being awesome by compiling a delicious of, hopefully, all the River fic ever.  Comment here if you know something that's been left out.

All recs are for relatively recent fic--about the last six months. 

not!smut:

Anything and everything by cinderbella333 .  She does so much so well, but read for the characterizations--they are wonderful and full of warmth and nuance and humor and insight.

A Matter of Time (Eleven/River, about 2500 words, K) is an excellent place to start.  Both funny and thoughtful and gives a good idea of her range.  Also: pirates!

Make Believe (on ff.net) (Eleven/River, about 3000 words, K) is longer and perhaps trickier, but absolutely not to be missed.

Then go to her journal and read everything in sight.
 

Present Perfect bychaila43  (River/Doctor, 2000 words, PG)  The real ship here is perhaps River/Time, explored fantastically through literature, linguistics, archaeology, and time travel.

River's Choice by elisi  (Eleven/River, 1300 words, PG)  Tender, luminous, bittersweet fic with a hint of dark and underpinnings of meta.  Read the also excellent Donna's Choice first to really get what's going on.

For River, with Love and Awkwardness by alt_universe_me   (Eleven/River , 550 words, PG)  So, there's no denying that this is total fluff, but it is my gold standard for fluff.  Short and sweet and perfect.

Fact by honeynoir   (River/Eleven, 819 words, G)  Lovely, slightly awkward teasing banter, and a delightful little look at how a time traveler and an archaeologist might tussle over history.

Skipping Stones by _thirty2flavors   (Rose, River, 1,500 words, G)  Say no to ship wars!  Intelligent and beautifully written "reconciling" of Rose and River.  Read to restore your faith in fandom.

The Time of Your Life by nostalgia_lj   (Eleven/River, 1500 or so words?, R)  Slightly smut but more not!smut.  An amusingly observed look at timey-wimey intimacy that takes you by surprise with its poignancy.


smut:

Thy Love is Better Than Wine by myconstant   (River/Eleven, 1802 words, adult)  Spare, beautiful eroticism with wistful timey-wimey colorings.  Lovely on its own, but it is inspired by The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon), and you are cheating yourself if you don't read the two together.

Like a River by stick_poker   (River/Eleven, 5300 words, NC-17)  I'll be honest and admit that I am of two minds about this fic.  The author pushes the characters into fairly extreme sexual territory that isn't my cup of tea, personally, so do read the header, but the result is an utterly masterfully written exploration of deep-rooted character and power dynamics that I don't think one could quite accomplish any other way.  I'm rather in awe, really.

Ink part one and part two by tardis_coral  and owlsie   (Eleven/River, 6000 words, NC-17)  Writing!sex.  What a concept.  High-potency emotional intimacy porn.


shameless self-pimp:

Back in Style (River/Eleven, 630 words, PG)  Humor, banter, those shoes.

Ceremonial  (River, River/Doctor, 2500 words, PG 13)  Life is held together by ritual.

Evilness vs. the Doctor (Eleven/River, the Master--a new incarnation, 2500 words, PG)  The forces of evilness have a little chat with the Doctor about where his storyline is going (humor/meta).

Comments

[owlboy]

(rolls around happily in fic) <3

[promethia_tenk]

It is a very happy-making sight, isn't it?

[chaila43.livejournal.com]

Oh awesome, I have somehow missed several of these!

And thanks for the rec! You make it sound really smart. :)

[promethia_tenk]

Happy to share the wealth!

And you're most welcome (because it was really smart!).

[honeynoir.livejournal.com]

TY for this post! I have somehow never read 'Present Perfect'... must gather self and comment on it now.

[promethia_tenk]

You're very welcome. Yes, definitely read that one--it's one of my favorites about River's more serious/academic side.

[cinderbella333.livejournal.com]

I had no idea that you had mentioned me in this post until I was checking out your livejournal today. I'm obviously terrible at keeping up with my friends list. Sorry. Everything you said about my work, just wow. It completely and utterly made my day. I'm also really flattered to be recommended alongside so many other really fantastic writers and stories. Thank you so much!

[promethia_tenk]

Oh, you're welcome again--I only say it because it's true. And it's been really rewarding to look back at how much the writing in the River communities has evolved. Back in the summer I never would have dreamed that we would end up with so many pieces with such insight and complexity and sophistication and just genuinely good writing--I really figured we were going to need more on-screen material to work with. Such is the power of creativity, I suppose!