Current mood:	productive
Current music:	nada

recs - the continuing adventures of Xander Harris, AUs, crossovers
I was *gasp* reading my flist and saw amireal request some BtVS and/or AtS recs; these are the ones I pulled together and left in comments for her. Anyway, I've found these to be a lot of fun, especially some of the more offbeat crossovers. Some grammar-type glitches, especially at TtH. Some slight OOC (of the super-competent Xander variety), again especially at TtH, but mostly maturity and self-confidence that's been gained over time.

• Nothing the Same by orchidluv - BtVS AU starting with episode 1/Welcome to the Hellmouth: Xander has a much stronger reaction to the vamping & dusting of Jesse and is estranged from Willow. Then he meets Spike. No crossover. Slash: Spike/Xander. Extraordinary AU that explores many of the "arrgh! I can't believe they went there/didn't follow that up?!" issues that I and others have with canon. Quite possibly the best BtVS//Spike/Xander fic that you're not reading (going on the relatively low number of comments per installment). WHY aren't you reading this? Go Read This NOW!!! Did I mention that, even though Xander comes into conflict with the other Scoobies, and they screw up in all the ways you'd expect of Xander-less Scoobies, the story remains sympathetic to all and, while characters make mistakes and act out and there are consequences, it all evolves from circumstances and characters - there is no bashing.


• Nothing the Same II by occhidluv *WIP* - Sequel to Nothing the Same, continuing into 2nd (and 3rd?) season.


• Bridges 'verse by Tassos - Xander as a Watcher in charge of Cleveland. Xander's Real Family story. Crossover with Stargate SG1. BtVS/post-Chosen; SG1/sometime? Gen. Author's Summary: "After the collapse of Sunnydale, Jack gets a call about a woman he knew over twenty years ago...and the son he didn't know he had." One of the most popular stories on TtH for a reason. From first tentative contact through holiday visits to the inevitable crisis, the fragile relationship growing between Xander and Jack O'Neill is fraught with trust issues and enormous secrets the sharing of which could (and will) have far-reaching consequences. Putting Xander and Jack together is always a treat.


• Oh, The Places He Goes! by phouka - Xander as a roving Watcher. BtVS/post-Chosen. Multiple crossovers </a>Highlander; Big Trouble in Little China; Charmed; Dead Last; Disney's The Love Bug; CSI:Las Vegas; Tremors; Arrested Development; Evil Dead; Stargate SG1; Kevin Smith film'verse; House; Amityville Horror; Sliders; Dead Zone; Cheers; Due South; Cupid; Wonderfalls; The 4400; DrWho/Torchwood; Dead Like Me; Time Bandits; Fraggle Rock; others). Humor. Mostly gen; Xander/Dawn in later stories. Instead of going to Africa, Xander resumes his cross-country post-graduation road trip while searching out new Slayers (and Watchers and support staff). Lots of wonderful, insane, humorous, poignant encounters with crossover characters, lots of cameos by BtVS characters, both series regulars and the obscure.


• Shoveling by PaBurke - Xander as a Watcher in charge of Cleveland. Crossover with M*A*S*H. BtVS/post-Chosen. M*A*S*H/post-series. In this wonderful story, a retired Hawkeye Pierce finds himself living next to a very unusual school that seriously needs a doctor. There are cameos by various M*A*S*H characters and a growing friendship between Xander and Hawkeye in which each learns from the other.


• Father Goose 'Verse by litmouse - Xander as a roving Watcher teamed up with Faith. Multiple crossovers </a>Law & Order: SVU; Gilmore Girls; CSI: Las Vegas; Alias; Stargate SG1; other? Mostly gen, with het & slash pairings; Xander/Faith in later stories. Latest story is WIP. This is enormous fun and even if you don't know the crossover series (as I was totally ignorant of Alias beyond "Jennifer Garner plays a spy with family issues"), it's easy to follow. A large, sweeping, robust rollercoaster of an AU 'verse, with some wonderful original characters in supporting parts. While the series centers on Xander (and Faith), the POV is usually one or more crossover characters. And what could be more fun than watching Xander (in a minor subplot) try to recruit new Watchers and support staff from the casts of the various crossovers. (Irina Derevko as a Watcher?!) Or Lt Col Dr Samantha Carter, USAF, trying to explain vampires and magic to her own rigorous scientific standards. There's comedy gold here if you love any of these canons - and also wild adventure and more than a bit of angst.


• Trick Or Treat by Kei - Xander as a Watcher in Cleveland. Crossover with Stargate SG1. BtVS/post-Chosen. SG1/sometime? Gen. Author's Summary: "An escaped Goa'uld, and rather sadistic Powers to Be, bring Xander out of the dubious security of his quaint little demon filled world, and into a not so quaint alien filled star system." As mentioned above, Xander and Jack together is always a treat. This is a very long story and there's a brief bit (couple chapters) near the end where I felt the author briefly lost the plot (got carried away), but gets back on track for the ending. Another extremely popular story at TtH.

Now, I have a request. If you go and read these recs, please let me know? It will encourage me to do this again. And I'm also curious about what other people think of these stories, so consider including a note about your reaction to the story(ies) you read.

::crosses fingers that I finally caught all the typos::

x-posted to Djinanna @: CJ, DJ, IJ, JF, LJ, via Semagic