latest (half-assed) update 29 November 2009
So many reasons to love this show — Sam and Dean and their epic man-pain; the Metallicar; the cock rock; the fabulously cheesy monsters-o'-the-week; the adolescent boy humor; Bobby and his general disgust at the idjits he's stuck wrangling; the snark-filled demons and the angels who pretty much define the concept of "with friends like these, who needs enemies"; and the geektastic fanboy in charge of the whole thing, with his occasional tongue-in-cheek nods to the absurdity of it all. No wonder this fandom has attracted some of the best writers around.
Recs include those of a gen and Special Hell nature, and the latter outnumber the former by a significant amount (feel free to cast aspersions on my character accordingly). The Special Hell pieces are all Sam/Dean in nature, and each story is identified as either (gen) or (Sam/Dean) at the end of the rec.
I've also listed some other sites/journals that I visit regularly, including some recs pages that are worth their virtual weight in gold. (If any one of the sites on this page is yours, and you'd prefer that I not link to it, I apologize, and will be happy to remove said link if you just let me know.)
BTW, if you should chance upon some terrific stories that I've managed to overlook, please drop me a line — I need all the help I can get with a) keeping up, and b) finding the good stuff. My eternal gratitude shall be yours.
New Additions
cjmarlowe - It Would Break This Heart of Mine - Pre-series - Something bad is tracking John, and to protect the boys, he locks them in silence. It doesn't take long for them to go a little bit nuts, and to turn to one another in ways their father certainly wasn't expecting. Love the mood in this, the sense of desperation. (Sam/Dean)
rivers_bend - In the Bleached Margin of the Sea - Pre-series AU in which Sam & Dean stumble across something mysterious in a wooded clearing, something that leaves them oddly connected. I like the 3-dimensional portrayal of all the characters here, including John; no one is really a bad guy, everyone's just very human and imperfect. The relationship between the guys is really well done. (Sam/Dean)
wraith816 - For Peace Comes Dropping Slow - After the battle-to-end-all-battles, Sam & Dean take a break at a borrowed vacation cabin in Minnesota. And things start to change. Wonderful gradual mood to this, and one of the most beautiful endings I've ever read. Lovely. (Sam/Dean)
philalethia - Coast On Through - The thing between Sam & Dean is pretty casual. And then it isn't. Nice depiction of their changing relationship here. (Sam/Dean)
dreamlittleyo - Running With Scissors - Because you knew Dean always picked scissors for a reason. Terrific use of Sam's POV in this look at Dean through his little brother's eyes. (Sam/Dean)
luzdeestrellas - A Day Like Today - A little "what might have been" fic for the end of S3 - quietly glorious. (Sam/Dean)
leonidaslion - Tangled Up in You - Another gorgeous piece in which Sam & Dean rest up on a farm after running off the local monster, and things gradually start to change. (Sam/Dean)
leonidaslion - The Little Spoon - Post-Lazarus Rising, and lovely; just a little slice of life piece. (Sam/Dean)
mirabella - Untitled Domestic!Antichrist Fic - The fact that Sammy's ruling in Hell apparently doesn't mean Dean can tap all the succubi he wants. Whatever, it was an honest mistake. Dean's voice is note-perfect in this hilarious little gem of a fic. (Sam/Dean)
mirabella - Devil He Told Me to Roll - AU in which Dean & Dad never told Sam the truth about The Family Business, and he went off to Stanford in blissful ignorance. But Sam's not an idiot, and when Dean shows up one day bleeding from his gut, holding a gun full of silver bullets and full of desperation to get gone before sunset, Sam starts to figure things out. Terrific Dean POV in this, and Sam's fear for his brother is beautifully depicted. Plus, Bobby, so it's all good. (Sam/Dean)
fleshflutter - I feel flames again - Following a failed apocalypse, Dean nurses Sam through his addiction to demon's blood, which has driven Sam to horrific things. Dark and angsty, but with a hopeful ending. (Sam/Dean)
drusilla - Lion and Lamb - AU in which Sam and Dean are foretold to end the world; John and Bobby try to split them up to stop the apocalypse, but we all know how that goes. Beautifully lush feel to this. (Sam/Dean)
destina - Home Front - Short but gorgeous. Sam & Dean retire and Dean takes to the neighborhood watch with a bit too much dedication. (Sam/Dean)
theyscreamofyou - All We Ask - Beautifully written AU in which Sam and Deam aren't hunters, but are still entirely wrapped up in one another. (Sam/Dean)
killabeez - Never My Intention - After the end of everything, a new beginning. Lovely. (Sam/Dean)
fleshflutter - The Incestuous Courtship of the Antichrist's Bride - BigBang2009 - Canon to end of S4, then goes completely, totally insane. This is brilliant crack from start to finish. I laughed like a loon. (Uriel as wedding planner. So very wrong.) (Sam/Dean)
The Recs
(in alpha order by author's LJ name -- or so goes the theory, anyway)
aerye - The Fall and Rise - A well-written, gorgeous post-apocalyptic tale of Sam and Dean surviving the demon takeover, going to ground, and fighting back. Beautifully done. (Sam/Dean)
alethia - A Stand-Up Man - Perfectly captures the bickering and snark overlying the affection between Sam & Dean. (gen)
angstslashhope - Field of Mars – A/U in which Sam and Dean have been missing for a long time, and John finally finds a clue in his search. John's voice is beautifully done here; the whole piece is achingly lovely, really. I wanted to weep for all of them. (gen)
angstslashhope - Prequel to "Field of Mars," On the banks of the Tiber tells what happened to the boys. I love the Sam in this; he's just so determined that they stay together, so focused on taking care of everything. (some have viewed it as kind of Sam/Dean, but the author evidently considers it gen)
antiship (joosetta) - The Process of the Taking - Goes A/U after "Hunted." Sam develops a whole slew of new powers, and they start to affect his relationship with Dean. I really liked the way she built the emotion and tension between the guys here, and Sam's freaky new Jedi mindtricks are cool as all getout. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Harvest - A lush, gorgeous day-in-the-life in the near future, just the boys and a quiet day in the New England countryside. Love the feel, the quiet contentment of this. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Leader of the Pack - The year's up, and Dean's ready to face the music; Sam's not in agreement, however, and decides to take matters into his own hands. The consequences are more than a bit terrifying (albeit occasionally hilarious), but Dean's pretty sure he can handle it. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Kings and Queens and Jokers Too - The Trickster has the last laugh. Brilliant! (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Old Country - The Winchesters meet the wizarding world. Yeah, Dean thinks it's nuts too. The clash of cultures is laugh-out-loud funny in this, and Dean is perfectly in character. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Back Country Roadmap - Future!fic in which Dean decides that his happy ending is going to include him and Sam knockin' boots. Laugh-out-loud funny Dean voice in this. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Battering Ram - A terrific little gem of post-apocalyptic fic that manages to be completely three-dimensional, bittersweet, and tremendously hopeful, all in relatively few words. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Binding - Post-"Born Under a Bad Sign." The amulets Bobby gives the boys have some...unexpected side-effects. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Under Hill - Elves are evil, man. No, seriously. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Road to Shambala - Future-fic in which a few too many drinks lead to some unasked-for revelations and, eventually, to a coming to terms. (Sam/Dean)
astolat - Miami - A fun little PWP that'll scorch the heck out of your monitor. Very high on the guh-factor, this one. (Sam/Dean)
azephirin - As Certain Dark Things - Interesting series of A/U stories in which Sam & Dean were raised apart, only to meet years later when Dean's a teacher at the school where Sam is finishing up his senior year. I like the emotion between the boys in this 'verse. (Sam/Dean)
The But Deadly series by bellatemple - A terrific AU series in which neither Winchester parent survived the yellow-eyed demon's attack, and four-year-old Dean was more than a little traumatized by witnessing their deaths. Love this "what if" take on canon, from pre-series through the pilot to one of the eps in season one. Great relationship between Sam and Dean here, and wonderful POVs from some of the canonical characters throughout. I look forward to reading more in this universe. (gen)
belyste - Two Queens - Dean's finally had enough of everyone thinking he and Sam are a couple, and decides to change a few things. Dean's voice is so spot-on in this, it's amazing. (Sam/Dean)
britomart_is - Me and the Devil Blues - A deceptively simple future!fic that's ever so creepy. Love the slow reveal in this. (Sam/Dean)
candle_beck - white face paint and glass boxes and devil wind - Dean is suddenly unable to speak, for no reason he and Sam can see; but his voice comes through clearly in this little gem of a tale, with fantastic brotherly bickering, a couple of terrific OCs, and excellent Sam POV. Plus a truly exquisite ending. (Sam/Dean)
candle_beck - Come My Way - I love the writing in this first-time story; Sam's POV is just beautifully done, and the use of language here overall is wonderful, evocative and powerful without being obvious. (Sam/Dean)
causeways - Treat Her Like a Lady - Dean manages to tick off yet another witch, and this one decides to slap a curse on him to force him to learn how to treat a woman properly. Of course, since Dean's always thought Sam was just a big girl anyway, the curse has some...unexpected consequences. Very funny. (Sam/Dean)
concernedlily - Strange's Country - Sam stopped focusing on ways to free Dean from the deal and started looking for ways to get him out of hell two months before he was due to arrive there. A long, intrically plotted, well written and beautifully crafted tale of the last few weeks of The Year and Sam's increasingly desperate attempts to save Dean...one way or another. The author uses some elements from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell to brilliant effect here (and one does not need to have read that book to thoroughly enjoy this story). This was an engrossing read that I couldn't put down. (gen)
concernedlily - Informed Consent - A scorching hot coda to 3x11 that bridges that ep and 3x12 beautifully. Sam decides the protective amulets just aren't cutting it anymore; it's time to bring out the big guns and get inked. Hijinks ensue. This is an "I'll be in my bunk" story if ever there was one. (Sam/Dean - boy, is it ever)
cupiscent - Comparative Morality - Sam's been dreaming -- but not about the demon...(Sam/Dean)
ddayspring - Infrangible Road - SPN BigBang AU in which John Winchester pulled his head out of his ass in the wake of Mary's death at the hand of the demon, settled down in Lawrence, and actually did his best to be some kind of father to Sam and Dean. This is a well-written story with an original plot, and the author does a nice job of depicting the rock-solid bond between Sam and Dean. The characterization didn't always ring quite true for me, but it is an AU; the boys certainly would be different given this background, so that wasn't a huge issue, IMO. (gen)
destina - Everything, After - A lush, glowing gem of a story in which Sam and Dean wallow in each other and being together post-Hell. Lovely. (Sam/Dean)
destina - Life Among the Dead - Gorgeous imagery in this, and a wonderful mood and pace to the story. (Sam/Dean)
destina - Kokomo - A short break in the action for the boys when Sam insists on a vacation after the events of "What Is and What Should Never Be." Just a little slice of life, sweet and all too brief. (Sam/Dean)
dreamlittleyo - Gather Me In Like A Rainstorm - I liked this short-but-sweet take on a possible opener for season 4 in which Sam's not sure how he pulled Dean back from Hell (but he's pretty sure he's better off not knowing). This is a nice little piece in which Sam is more than a bit happy to just enjoy having Dean back alive, unharmed, and blessedly unable to remember anything that happened after the deal came due. The slow, inevitable feel of their gradual coming together is the best part of this. (Sam/Dean)
eighth_horizon* - Last Outpost of All That Is - A masterpiece. Guess who slept through the end of the world? (Whoops.) Apocafic that manages to be simultaneously poignant and melancholy but ultimately hopeful and satisfying. (It's a sign of brilliance when you can write happy ending stories set in a dystopian universe, I tell you.) This is start-to-finish brilliant, with note-perfect voices and a terrific sense of mood. (Sam/Dean)
And be sure to read the amazingly gorgeous coda to "Last Outpost," Not for Sampson in the Temple by maygra. So beautiful. (Sam/Dean)
eighth_horizon* - the idea of an island - An insightful little look at Sam & Dean through the eyes of a barista. Short, but a lot of fun. (gen)
eighth_horizon* - Pillow Talk - Despite the title, this really is gen, and it's a terrific mix of funny and bittersweet. (gen)
eighth_horizon* - All of her fic is worth a read (and a re-read). Most of it is gen, and exquisite gen at that; anything non-gen is marked accordingly. Her Salvation verse is unutterably gorgeous (mostly gen/het), and I'm particularly fond of her Turn of the Wheel series (which eventually becomes Sam/Dean).
eighth_horizon* - Immutable Law is bittersweet and angsty; its sequel, Unlocked, resolves things beautifully, leaving the boys in a much more upbeat place. (Sam/Dean)
ellipsisblack - The Far Side of the Sea - An A/U in which Sam and Dean stumble across a mysterious village that appears out of nowhere, and then disappears just as suddenly, taking Dean along with it. When he returns, he is...not quite the same. Poignant mood to this, with a beautiful, achingly sad ending. (Sam/Dean)
eloise_bright - Death vs. Dean Winchester: Grudge Match '07 - Pretty much the funniest thing ever. Dean vs. Death! And...pie! (gen)
eloise_bright - Silent Protest - A quick snapshot of baby Sammy, young Dean and a frazzled John at the dinner table. Hilarious. (gen, obviously) She's one of my favorite writers in this fandom.
eloise_bright* - Conversational Winchester for Trolls is a cracktastic hoot. Here's canon in a nutshell, folks. (And man, even the trolls want Sam to get a haircut.) (gen)
eloise_bright* - Familiar Lullabies is a lovely little snapshot of John and the (very young) boys driving through the night. Wonderful mood to this. (gen)
eloise_bright* - Like Any Other Man is a terrific story set pre-series; John is banged up while hunting, and young Dean and Sam have to cope with his sudden vulnerability. (gen)
esorlehcar* - Her Down to the End 'Verse is just...guh. My love for this cannot be textually rendered. She does a marvelous job with the characterization in this series (or consecutive sets of companion pieces, really). One of the absolute must-reads for anyone in this fandom, IMO. (Sam/Dean)
estei - Consult the Book of Armaments - Sam's sick and Dean's being an awesome older brother (Python!). Hilarious Dean POV in this little ficlet. (gen)
estei - No Bravery - A note-perfect coda for 3x13, poignant and melancholy. (gen)
estrella30* - Room 11A - Post-"Folsom Prison Blues," Sam and Dean are hiding out and getting on each other's nerves. And then things change. Terrific Dean voice here, and the pissy bickering is perfect. (Sam/Dean)
estrella3* - In Darkness and In Light is a marvelous slice-of-life piece that evokes summer so strongly, you can practically taste the sweat. (Sam/Dean)
estrella30* - Landmarks - Short and sweet; really lovely. (gen)
estrella30* - a little superstitious now - Ye olde bodyswitching tale, Sam & Dean-style. You gotta love those fanfic cliches when they're done right, as is most definitely the case here. (Sam/Dean)
estrella30* - Three Point Two - This A/U is just a little snippet of what might have been. Jess & Sam are married and expecting their third kid, and Dean babysits for their two sons while they catch a dinner out. Absolutely unrepentant schmoop from beginning to end, but I love Dean's relationship with his nephews. So adorkable. (gen, het)
ethrosdemon - Fort Lauderdale - (Why yes, this is yet another tattoo-fic written in the wake of 3x12 -- your point?) Love this take on Sam's POV here, and a good job with Dean's characterization as well. (Sam/Dean)
ethrosdemon - Private Language is a wonderfully written tale that ruminates on the whole Sam/Dean dynamic using fabulously trippy imagery. Angsty and lovely. (Sam/Dean)
ficwriter1966 - Dean and the Company Picnic - Dean drags Sam along to the annual picnic of a company where he once worked for 17 hours. (And everyone there remembers him fondly, natch.) Unrepentant crack from start to finish, and flat-out hilarious. (gen)
flambeau (torch) - blood sugar sex magic - Four interlocked snippets. Normally I can't be bothered to read anything this short, let alone rec it, but she captures the boys just perfectly here. (Sam/Dean)
fleshflutter - This Thing of Ours - An A/U take on the pilot ep in a universe in which the Winchester family business is organized crime, not fighting the supernatural. Very well done. (Sam/Dean)
fleshflutter - Starting for Home - It's time for Sam to bring about the end of the world. Gorgeously moody and poignant. (Sam/Dean)
fleshflutter - The Day Before Hell - Future-fic based on 3x02. It's years in the future and the world is not a pretty place, and the boys are more than a little responsible, in one way or another. Wonderfully bleak, atmospheric look at one worst-case scenario, and a terrific incorporation of a grown-up version of a young character from 3x02. (implied Sam/Dean)
flipmontigirl - The Boy Who Fell has the feel of a fairytale in its character study of Dean and those he has loved. (Sam/Dean)
frayen - Up in our bedroom, after the war - A quiet little future-fic set post-demonic-war, and everyone is reeling, shocked at having survived -- Sam and Dean most of all. Nice mood to this. (Sam/Dean)
gretazreta - The common fate of all - The writing in this fic is achingly gorgeous, stark and bleak without being over the top. This Dean Winchester was brought up in foster care and has been alone all his life; he works in insurance, has never hunted or fired a gun, and has never owned a car. Then, one day, he meets a guy called Sam. Amazing mood and feel to this piece, and wonderful POV. (Sam/Dean)
halfshellvenus - The Flow of Darkness - Lovely mood to this piece, wonderfully eerie. (Sam/Dean)
hansbekhart - The Last Day - It's one year after AHBL, and time's up. Short but incredibly powerful. (Sam/Dean)
hansbekhart - Beach Blanket Poltergeist - Terrifically plotty long SPN tale. The dramatic tension here is very well done, and the bickering and unspoken affection between Sam & Dean is completely in character. A thoroughly enjoyable read. (gen)
iamstealthyone - The One Where Dean Turns Into a Car - Um...yeah. Pretty much what the title says. (Shut up, it's funny!) (gen)
ignipes* - White Picket Fences - What might have been -- Sam and Dean living the suburban dream next door to one another with wives, kids, dogs, and :::shudder::: minivans. Oh, except for those creepy-as-hell nightmares Sam's been having. Terrific little edge to this fic. (gen)
ignipes* - Sagebrush and Sandstone - The boys on a hunt through the desert. Beautifully atmospheric. (Sam/Dean)
ignipes* - Border Crossings - Sam goes walkabout. Wonderful character piece, and the tiny details of his travels are incredibly real. (Sam/Dean)
ignipes* - The Boys of Summer - Short but sweet, and very telling. (gen)
ignipes* - The Language of This Foreign Country - Sam finally starts to understand Dean-speak, and to grow up a bit in the process. (gen)
ignipes also has a vast amount of really lovely gen fic, which she has kindly collected in a master fic list. Anything non-gen is listed accordingly. She's one of my very favorite authors, and I recommend her work wholeheartedly.
ignited - it's not the years, honey, it's the mileage - This is the future I want Sam and Dean to have. Period. Pure genius, from beginning to end. (Zombie ninjas!!) (Sam/Dean)
immoralilly - This is Not About Love is hilarious. When Dean Winchester met the person he was going to spend the rest of his life with, he said, "He's kind of ugly. I wanted a sister, Mom." (Sam/Dean)
impertinence - Transient - is beautifully poignant, and a great look at Dean. (Sam/Dean)
innie_darling - Vocabulary - A wonderful little piece from the POV of teenaged Sam, struggling to define himself. Marvelous voice in this. (gen)
janissa11 - Land's End - Dean takes a job crab fishing in the Bering Sea -- hey, it's easy money, right? Yeah, except for the part where it nearly kills you. This is a terrific little story that just nails Dean perfectly. (gen)
jonny_vrm - Somewhere A Clock is Ticking - An interesting A/U in which Max (who didn't die here) joins Sam & Dean on the road, and trouble ensues. (Sam/Dean)
joyfulgirl41 - Just a Little Lullaby - Exquisitely sad, with a bare-bones writing style that is deceptively simple. (gen)
kajikia - The Larks, Still Bravely Singing - Gritty, realistic look at a WWII-era Sam & Dean. Amazing detail and desperation in this. (Sam/Dean)
keepaofthecheez - (Wise Men Say) Only Fools Rush In - Dean ticks off an imp, and the resulting curse leaves him and Sam unable to get more than 10 feet from one another before bad things happen. Smutty hijinks ensue, in the best fanfic tradition. Love her take on the guys here. (Sam/Dean)
kellifer_fic - The Skin Horse - Sam isn't the only one with powers; Dean's just kept his at bay for a while, but that's about to change. Wonderful characterization here, as there is in all of her SPN fic (and SGA, for that matter). (gen)
kellifer_fic - Picture Perfect - A mysterious camera shows Dean what might have been for Sam. Dean's need to see Sam happy rings true. (gen)
kellifer_fic - Tired Most of the Time, Exhausted the Rest and Running Around and Falling Off Things - Both of these pieces do a nice job of showing the affection between all the Winchesters through snapshots of their lives -- and injuries -- together. (gen)
killabeez - Birds on a Wire - Set post-"Hunted," this beautifully captures the desperation both guys are feeling, even if it's for vastly different reasons. An angsty, painful piece. (Sam/Dean) (There is now a rather lovely sequel to this by stele3; see below.)
kimonkey7 - ...And It Went Right to My Head - Dean at a bar after a job, post-"In My Time of Dying," finally starting to grieve. Wonderful. (gen)
kroki_refur - Fervourless as I - Gut-wrenching coda to 3x11. The shifts in time between past and present are agonizing -- kind of like the episode itself. And she does a wonderful job with the backstory of how the Sam we saw in the second half of the ep came to be. (gen)
kroki_refur - Last Man Standing - A (very) worst-case scenario. Dean's pain is palpable here. (gen)
kroki_refur - Wild Men Who Caught and Sang the Sun - Future!fic, and cut-to-the-bone painful. Beautifully written and unflinching. (Sam/Dean)
kroki_refur - Because I Could Not Stop for Death (He Kindly Stopped for Me) - A tongue-in-cheek deathfic. (No, really.) Sam and Dean are dead. Except -- not so much. Truly inspired crack, this is. (gen)
kroki_refur - The Hardest Thing You'll Ever Learn - Lord, I adore this look at the Winchesters through Bobby's eyes. Bobby is one of my favorite characters in the show, and she does him justice here. (gen)
ladyjaida - And the First Two Don't Count - Lovely Sam POV in this first-time piece. (Sam/Dean)
ladyjaida - Do Nothing for the Dead - An A/U of the way things might have gone post-"Devil's Trap." As painful as it is well-written (and by that, I mean very, on both fronts). (slight Sam/Dean, but that is so very much not the point here)
lemmealone - Fire or Fire - SPN BigBang fic set post-season 3. It only took Sam an hour to pull Dean out of hell, but that hour was enough to break Dean pretty badly. And if that's not enough, Sam can't remember exactly what he did to get his brother back, and he's starting to get the feeling that maybe there's a reason he doesn't really want to remember. Interesting plot in this, and nice involvement of the SPN regular cast of characters. (gen)
lostt1 - Ashes of Another Life - Dean stops by to check on Sam at Stanford for the first time since Sam's big blow-out with their dad; the reunion goes well, except for the small fact that Sam doesn't recognize him. Oh, and he's going by Sam Speros now, with a whole 'nother family and Winchester-free life behind him. And an obvious un-brotherly interest in Dean, just as icing on the cake. This is an interesting AU, with an original concept and solid characterization; I liked this view of what Sam might be like if he had grown up (or thought he had, anyway) in a normal, happy family, and the immediate connection he feels with Dean was nicely handled. (Sam/Dean)
luzdeestrellas - The Road Goes Ever On and On - A wonderful little future-fic in which Sam & Dean celebrate Sam's first birthday after escaping the deal with the cross roads demon. Just heartwarmingly lovely. (supposedly gen, but read like pre-slash to me)
luzdeestrellas - Through the Racks of Your History and All the Crossed Lives - Gorgeous, poignant tag to "What Is and What Should Never Be." Wonderful mood to this. (Sam/Dean)
luzdeestrellas - From the Fire Roads to the Interstate - A short, moving look at Dean through Sam's eyes. (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - This road is wrapped around me, and I wear it like a chain - Future fic that really packs a punch. Love the slow reveal in this. (gen)
lyra_wing* - All is Bright - A coda to 3x08, "A Very Supernatural Christmas." This is exactly what I want to imagine happened after the last scene. Lovely. (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - Drink This Well Dry - A beautiful little coda to "What Is and What Should Never Be" that soothes a lot of the wounds that episode leaves behind. (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - Dust in the Wind - A wonderfully atmospheric future!fic in which Sam and Dean become...more than just Sam and Dean. (gen)
lyra_wing* - Tremolo and Staccato - Sam and Dean over the years, growing up and coming to terms. Absolutely gorgeous, from start to finish. (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - Ripping Mended Seams - This A/U is clever and very much in character, with a terrific ending that closes the circle rather nicely. (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - In Miles, In Laughter, In Strife - This is a interesting way of looking at the entire year covered in season one of the show (complete with missing months/seasons) through the lense of a slowly developing Sam/Dean relationship. I always like to see how authors re-interpret existing canon through a slash filter. (There is also a hugely entertaining spinoff fic, And we are here as on a darkling plain, that provides a more in-depth look at one of the more...problematic months mentioned in the first story.) (Sam/Dean)
lyra_wing* - Lessons Learned - A smart, spooky future!fic that brings back Michael and Lucas (from "Something Wicked" and "Dead in the Water," respectively). I liked the plot, and she does a good job of fleshing out the characters of the two boys, now older and dealing with their own issues. (And her little ficlet about them on the road together, Give or Take, or Maybe Both, is just adorable.) (Sam/Dean, other slash pairing)
lyra_wing* - Chocolate (or, The Things You Gotta Do to Get Laid) - A slightly more serious sequel to the equally excellent Cherry (or, The Things You Learn About a Guy). Both stories manage to pack in a heck of a lot of great characterization and dialogue (and smut, of course), despite their brevity. (Sam/Dean)
mahoni - Heedless of the Boy - A cute little ficlet about the ups and downs of two guys the sizes of Sam and Dean actually trying to share a king bed. (And despite that summary, this really is gen.) Very funny. (gen)
makesmewannadie - Ink - Post-"Born Under A Bad Sign," Sam decides to get a tattoo. Then another. Things escalate. Pretty much sheer porn, but lovely in its porniness. And that is just a gorgeous visual, frankly. (Sam/Dean)
mandysbitch - You Never Had It So - Dean, facing past and future with bleak, hopeless honesty. The POV is disarmingly effective, and the voices are very well done. (Sam/Dean)
maygra - Elementum Res. Progressus is lovely, with gorgeous language and imagery, and an interesting narrative structure. (Sam/Dean)
maygra's Open Road Series is quietly exquisite; each story has a wonderful feel to it, and the writing is subtle and eloquent. The stories are Reminders of Echoes, Midnight at the Majestic, Land of Trembling Earth, and Hemingway Never Slept Here , and I recommend them highly. (Sam/Dean)
maygra - The Company You Keep - Sam goes MIA and Dean is frantic. This is a ghost story with a nice sense of mood and atmosphere. (gen)
meadowmines - Life is a Banquet - The boys piss off some redcaps, and one dying-breath curse later, they're left with an...unusual problem. Unrepentant crack!fic, and absolutely hilarious. (Sam/Dean)
merryish - North of Wednesday - Post-3x11, Sam's pretty much freaking out. Fortunately for him, Dean gets it. Lovely start-of-something-other-than-brotherly fic. (Sam/Dean)
merryish - Surrender Dorothy - A quick run-in with a tornado on a back road in Iowa brings things to a head for Sam & Dean. Great snapshot of the boys here, circa season 3. (Sam/Dean)
merryish - Rest stop. Near Leland, Mississippi. - Just a short, sweet slice-o'-life in which Sam patches up Dean by the side of a road, and complications ensue. Nice Dean voice in this one. (Sam/Dean)
mickeym - We Knew Each Other As We Always Were - SPN BigBang WWII-era AU. Sam and Dean are raised by Bobby Singer on his North Dakota farm after their mom dies in a house fire and their dad goes off the map. Beautifully written story with a lovely sense of time and place, and great Sam POV; the love between Sam and Dean is very clear throughout. The ending is a little hokey, but it's still a wonderful read. (Sam/Dean)
mikhale - By these arms, belong - This is a gorgeous, lyrical look at Sam's gradual realization of the truth about his feelings for Dean, and Dean's for him. (Sam/Dean)
mikhale - Fight until mercy exhales, live until death breaks - A spooky, smart apocalyptic story with a marvelous sense of mood. (Sam/Dean)
misskittye - Mournful He Would Be on Wednesday - Another short, gorgeous coda for 3x11, starting right where "Mystery Spot" ends. Sam's POV is very well done, as are both of the boys' voices. (Sam/Dean)
modernsaints - But If the Chance Came By - Moments from a life together and a relationship as it changes. I was really taken with the style and mood of this piece, for some reason. Short but effective, especially at the end. (Sam/Dean)
mona1347 - Blood and Bone - I love the details in this, the painful truth of it. Lovely. (Sam/Dean)
monkeycrackmary - Looking Glass World - A poignant, lovely AU about finding home when all was thought lost. (Sam/Dean)
monkeycrackmary - Full Moon and a Penny - A wonderful look at young Dean & Sam, featuring Dean's first romance (leave it to him...) and Sam's first hunt. Plus, Papa Winchester! What's not to love? (gen)
monkiedude - There the Crevasse - Maybe Dean's just a little too good at knowing what Sam needs, eh? Thought!porn. (Sam/Dean)
moveablehistory - hear the whole world turning - Sam's cursed. Dean doesn't really mind. Nice tongue-in-cheek feel to this. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - I Got Some Beer and the Highway's Free - I love, love, love this future!fic in which the boys go to ground in NYC while Dean recovers from his time in Hell. All the details about their life together and the city are absolutely note-perfect, the characterization is dead-on, and the pacing is flawless. Just a gorgeous story from start to finish. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - Thirteen Ways - Lovely little series of vignettes that look at Sam, his life, and his relationship with Dean through the years. Nice mood to these. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - For Thine is the Kingdom - A thoroughly enjoyable first-time fic, with wonderful language and imagery. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - Quinquae Viae - Five ways Sam knows Dean loves him. Quiet and very evocative of their life together. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - The Trouble With You is the Trouble With Me - This really worked for me as a getting-together-post-AHBL fic. The dynamics between Sam and Dean are just perfectly in character, and Dean's voice is spot-on throughout (with one minor exception; much as I love the boy, and I think he's sharp as a tack, there's no way I can see him even thinking the phrase "Schwarzschild radius" -- unless he was mocking Sam, of course). I can completely buy this as the start of a more-than-brotherly relationship. (Sam/Dean)
musesfool* - Give Me a Leonard Cohen Afterworld - Sam wakes up in the normal life he's always wished for, but the price may be too high for him to pay. (And wow, is this ironic, given that it was written before episode 2x20, "What Is and What Should Never Be.") (gen)
musesfool* - The Forces Ranged Within Us and Against Us - A connected series of 21 vignettes about Sam and Dean and their lives, post-"Nightshifter." Wonderful Dean POV in these. (Sam/Dean)
nutkin - What Comfort it Brings - Melancholy look at Sam and Dean as The Year winds down. The mood of this is just gorgeous, achingly poignant. (Sam/Dean)
nutkin - Driving Down the Darkness - An epic look back at S1 through the lens of a slowly changing relationship between the boys. This is beautifully crafted and paced, with spot-on characterization and pitch-perfect voices for both Sam and Dean. Gorgeous work. (Sam/Dean)
onelittlesleep - But I Never Could Sharpen No Blade, Quite the Way He Say - The boys and their last few days together before Stanford, pre-series. Completely in character, and so unbearably painful. (gen)
oxoniensis - A Lie the Size of the Sky - Wonderfully detailed A/U using the daemon concept from His Dark Materials, along with a touch of Stardust. Well plotted and subtle. (Sam/Dean)
oxoniensis - lost invisible here - The priests of the Hermitic Order of the Golden Dawn try to help Dean achieve self-realization by...well, by granting him an unwanted superpower, basically. Chaos ensues. Great brotherly bickering in this one. (Sam/Dean)
oxoniensis - Five Stages - As the author says: Sometimes, love's not much different from grief. (Sam/Dean)
pandoraiam - Spark - A wonderfully long A/U in which Dean is a fireman and former foster child who knows nothing about his birth family. He meets a strange guy named Sam who drags him along on hunts, and all sorts of lovely complications ensue. Nicely done from start to finish. (Sam/Dean)
peripheralsight - In Jerusalem Next Year breaks your heart, and St. Peter's Bones puts it back together, albeit a little worse for wear. (Sam/Dean)
poisontaster & mona1347 - Master fic list - They wrote some of the very first fic I read in this fandom, and I enjoyed their early stories thoroughly, whether written separately or together. I'm particularly enthralled with the Every Broken Thing/Heart 'Verse, in all its screwed-up, dysfunctional beauty. (mostly Sam/Dean, some gen)
purpleposi - The Whipping Post - Short post-"Houses of the Holy" ficlet with a marvelous Dean POV. (gen)
raina_at - Unspoken - Her Sam and Dean are very real in this terrific first-season piece; there are no easy answers here, but there is caring and there is hope. (Sam/Dean)
rei_c - Men Enough to Face the Darkness - In the author's own words, happy-ending!apocalypse-fic. I know, bit of a head-scratcher, but it's a beautifully written, engrossing tale with a wonderfully spooky mood and marvelous imagery. (Sam/Dean)
sanyin - The Thousand Fingered Wait - Coda to 3x11, and gorgeously poignant. Marvelous Sam POV here. (Sam/Dean)
sanyin - Tied You With Your Flaxen Hair - An interesting spinoff from the possibilities explored in "What Is and What Should Never Be." I didn't read the episode this way, but I really liked the way she spun things around and where this Dean and Sam wound up. (Sam/Dean)
sardonicsmiley - Counting to Ten in Other Galaxies - An AU set in the SGA universe; Sam is a scientist and Dean a Marine in Atlantis. Despite the setting, this is very much an SPN story, with the SGA cast distant in the background. Sam and Dean and virtually all of the SPN characters work amazingly well here -- she's done a fantastic job using the Atlantis setting and canon to play with SPN, while still being completely true to the SPN characters. This could seriously use a better beta in a significant number of spots, but it is an engrossing, imaginative read. Her adaptation of the SPN canon to the SGA universe is incredibly creative. I adored this Sam and Dean, and didn't want this to end. (Sam/Dean)
setissma - Maleus Malleficarum - Another, very different A/U in which Sam & Dean live in a "His Dark Materials"-style world in which everyone has a daemon. Interesting take on the end-of-the-year plot using this concept. (Sam/Dean)
sevenfists* - Dating for Dummies - Really funny take on the start of a Sam/Dean relationship. Sam's voice is very well done here, and I love this clueless!Dean. (Sam/Dean)
sevenfists* - Few and Far Between - Post-AHBL, the boys take a road trip along Route 66. Poignant, bittersweet, and achingly lovely. (Sam/Dean)
sevenfists* - Life As We Know
It - Pretty much the perfect Sam/Dean first-time story. Both of
the guys are completely in character here, and their voices are absolutely
rock-solid. This is just a beautiful story with a lovely sense of mood
and place. Exquisite. (Sam/Dean)
- And there are outtakes! Here and here! Yay!
sevenfists* - Hakatai - I just love the dialoge between Sam and Dean in this, and the deceptively simple writing style really works. (Sam/Dean)
sevenfists* - Someone Else's Blood - She gives great pissy-brotherly-bickering, and yet somehow the affection bleeds right through. (Sam/Dean)
sevenfists* - Moderation Itself - Dean comes to a few...realizations while Sam has gone walkabout in a snit. Nice mix of humor, angst, and smut in this one. (Sam/Dean)
sneaky_sena - No Sweeping Exits or Offstage Lines - There is excellent brotherly bickering and pranking in this one, and then it has to go and get all serious and angsty on us. Interesting take on Sam, and I am particularly fond of Dean here. Funny, bittersweet, and hopeful. (gen-ish, but with Sam/Dean UST)
stele3 - The World's a Small Child in the Dark - Gorgeous, wonderful fic covering the year after the S2 finale. Sam's passionate desperation and Dean's fuck-it-all attitude overlying his terror ring true; their voices are exquisitely done. Just a magnificent read. (Sam/Dean)
stele3 - The Epic Love Story of Sam and Dean - Well, I'm not sure I'd call it epic, but it is a perfectly lovely sequel to the oh-so-bittersweet "Birds on a Wire" by killabeez (see above). Nicely done happy ending here. (Sam/Dean)
subterrain - The Cure for a Bolt Action Heart - I'm not usually a fan of crossovers, but this is an SPN A/U-meets-Firefly, and it works. Dean bonds with Jayne over weapons, Sam and River speak the same language, and Simon finally meets someone who understands the lengths you will go to for family. (implied Dean/Sam, implied Simon/River)
sweetestdrain - The Wandering Kind - A BigBang AU in which canon is altered in interesting ways. Dean meets a mysterious hitchiker named Sam Harvelle shortly after John dies of a heart attack; he finds himself oddly trusting the young man, even as the world around them becomes stranger by the minute. An original premise that I thought had a lot of potential, even if the story didn't quite live up to it, IMO. Still, the writing was solid, the plot well-paced, and there was some nice intensity between Sam and Dean, so I found it worth a read. (Sam/Dean)
sweetestdrain - Swear By All Flowers - A truly original A/U future!fic involving Russian folktales and a complete failure to communicate. Marvelously broody atmosphere in this, and a lovely, hopeful ending. (Sam/Dean)
tabaqui - Wolfpack - This is an amazingly vivid A/U in which the Winchesters are much more dangerous versions of themselves; feral, vicious, and completely insular, they're not much different from what they're hunting. Told from Ellen's POV, this is a fascinating take on the characters. (Sam/Dean)
tabaqui - Dogs of War – A sequel to "Wolfpack," and again, told from a outsider POV; this time, that of an original character. While I'm not as bowled over by it as I was by the first tale, it was still an interesting read, and I liked the narrator character very much. And this Sam and Dean are still scary as the day is long. (Sam/Dean)
teand - Seventy-Six Trombones Played Gloria Gaynor - Complete crack!fic, and completely hysterical. There's cross-dressing and a cursed disco ball. Ow, my brain. (Sam/Dean)
thenyxie - Ouroboros - Long, well-paced, plot-intensive AU in which the SPN canon universe has seen a few significant changes. Dean's little brother Sam died when Dean was 9, and Dean's now the last Winchester; he's joined up with Gordon and Kubrick (the crazy-Jesus-freak hunter) on the trail of the supposed Antichrist. But when they track down the evil one, turns out it's just a too-tall college kid with messy brown hair, and Dean is completely unable to kill the kid...who goes by the name of Sam Harrison. Chaos ensues. This was a really interesting tale in which the SPN world we know is spun ever-so-slightly to the left -- and yet, some things are truly universal; Sam and Dean still need each other like oxygen. (Sam/Dean)
traffic_west - I can't wait to fall in love with you - A lovely little ficlet in which Sam finally makes a move and Dean's reaction is...not exactly what he expected. Very cute. (Sam/Dean)
traveller - any which way you can - My love for this is immeasurable. One of the first fics I read in SPN, and still a favorite. Interesting POV, and I adore this take on the whole screwed-up Sam & Dean dynamic, from pre-series through the start of the show: First it was Sam trying to help, trying to please; then it was Dean trying to hold, trying to keep. Then it was nothing, until it was again, and nobody saw that coming, shit. (Sam/Dean)
tremblings - A Cat Without Whiskers - Dean pisses off the wrong old lady, and one curse later, is unable to tell a lie (and unable to shut up). A nice mix of humor and drama. It's also a bit schmoopier than I ordinarily like, but hey, it was written for Valentine's Day, after all. (Sam/Dean)
tremblings - The Night You Came Into My Life, Well, It Took the Bones of Me - Dean and Sam go undercover in a suburbia where the Stepford wives are a bit more deadly than usual. Hilarious. (Sam/Dean)
trollprincess* - Pay as You Go - A look at season one through snapshots of the various aliases used. It's a clever concept, and the story is perfectly structured, with just the right mix of humor and poignance. (Sam/Dean)
trollprincess* - Real Men Don't Make Cheesecake - During his senior year of high school, Dean gets stuck in home ec -- and finds that he pretty much kicks ass at it. (Guess what he chooses for his cross-stitching project. Hee!) Great Dean characterization in this. (gen with a little Dean/OFC het)
trollprincess* - Straight On 'Til Morning - A marvelous A/U in which Mary didn't die in the fire. Told from her POV, this is a terrific story that incorporates the huntings and Sam's time at Stanford within the framework of a damaged-but-still-whole family. (gen)
trollprincess* has written many fabulous stories (gen, het, and slash), all of which are listed in her master fic list; or you can pick your poison by going directly to her fic of the non-Wincest or Wincest persuasion. I think she has written some of the most original, gorgeous fiction in this fandom.
tru_faith_lost - Something Golden - A fascinating post-apocalyptic AU/future!fic in which Sam and Dean manage to crawl out of the pit left behind after they bring down Hell...only to find that what's left of the world is no better, with no life, no sun, cesspools where cities used to be, and a constant deluge of acid rain. Despite this major downer of a premise, this is not a depressing story; the writing is beautiful, with powerful imagery and clear depiction of the strength of the bond between Sam and Dean, and a terrifically smart, hopeful(-ish) ending. (Go Dean!) A memorable, original tale. (I suggest read the story first and then reading the author notes at the end; they're extremely interesting as well.) (Sam/Dean)
tru_faith_lost - Dean Reads - Loved this look at how the boys have always complemented one another and how the lessons taught in childhood may lead to salvation for them both. (gen)
uschickens - Fianna - Dean counts the years without Sam. Melancholy, but with a terrifically satisfying happy ending. (Sam/Dean)
vorpalblades - I Am The Very Model - Love this clever, funny AU. The demon army on earth decides it's had enough of being leaderless, and makes Sam its de facto general (despite his lack of interest in the job). Sam decides he can live with that. A highly entertaining tale with a laugh-out-loud ending. (gen)
walkawayslowly - What Remains - SPN BigBang AU/future!fic set awhile after Sam springs Dean loose from Hell. Sam's sick, so Dean goes on a quick recon trip alone to a small town in Texas where strange things have been happening; things get a little complicated on that "quick trip" when Dean manages to save all the town's kids from a lethal Pied Piper and, incidentally, completely lose his memory. The grateful townspeople take Dean in and cover for his less-than-legal past, and it takes Sam months to track down his brother, only to find no glimmer of recognition on Dean's face when they finally meet. I liked the pace and mood of this, and Sam's POV is very well done; so too is that of the other narrator, the local deputy who becomes Dean's friend in this new life he's leading. Plenty of angst, solid happy ending -- a good read. (Sam/Dean)
wanttobeatree - In this part of the story I am the one who dies - Set during the days and weeks following the first Wednesday in "Mystery Spot," this is a short but powerful look at Sam living through his personal hell. Beautifully written. (gen)
winterweathered* - tuesday's gone - A look at their life post-Mystery Spot, and at Sam's slow recovery. Terrific Sam and Dean voice throughout. And just look who shows up again! (Sam/Dean)
winterweathered* - This November Life - Picks up right after AHBL. Dean saved Sam, and now Sam's determined to save Dean; but the fallout from what he'll have to do to make that happen won't be pretty. This is a marvelously written, moody look at the year after The Deal. I adored her portrayal of both of the guys in this; the characterization and POV are wonderfully well done, and Sam's decisions and actions seem very true to him. (Sam/Dean)
winterweathered* - Exact Change - A long, lovely, marvelously in-character coming together tale set post-"Heart." Chock full of angst, terrific moments between the boys, a little plot, and a wonderful, hopeful ending. (Sam/Dean)
winterweathered* - Worth It to See Most of Me - Coda for "What Is and What Should Never Be," with Sam and Dean holed up together and driving each other crazy. The voices here are perfect, and both of the guys are completely in character. (Sam/Dean)
ygrawn - Second Glance - John is only ever a second glance to his boys, who see each other first, always first, with little room at the edges of their vision for anybody else. Sam and Dean through John's eyes. Gorgeously written, with wonderful imagery and mastery of mood. (Sam/Dean)
technosage's when there was no dream of mine (the attics of my life remix) is a quiet, subtle coda to "Skin" from Sam's POV. Lovely writing here. (Sam/Dean)
I love the flashbacks to various points in the lives of Dean and Sam in both The Naked Floor Reminds Me by Victoria P. (musesfool) and its remix, Running by Your Side (The Promises We Made Remix) by luzdeestrellas. Wonderfully true take on both of the boys in these pieces. (gen)
poisontaster's exquisite Peace in Our Time is a perfect little slice-of-life, and the remix, In a Sound a Thought (Where the Sea Meets the Land) by ignipes, gives a sweet and grumpy take on the tale from Dean's POV. (Sam/Dean)
The Chemicals Between Us (Oxygen Remix) by luzdeestrellas is a gorgeous, lyrical piece set after "Crossroad Blues." Dean's hesitation over the demon's offer brings to the surface all the feelings the boys have been fighting, and Sam is tired of living in denial. Beautifully written, with some wonderful imagery. (Sam/Dean)
I'm always a little nervous when someone remixes a story I like, and I adore The Boys of Summer by ignipes. Not to worry, though; The Boys of Summer (Hot Corner Rag) by Victoria P. (musesfool) is simply amazing, with flashbacks to the boys' childhood and lovely glimpses of their family life. Told from Dean's POV, this is a fantastic piece of work. (gen)
Where I'll Be Tomorrow by luzdeestrellas and the remix, Learning Things We Already Knew (The Remedial Education Remix) by mollita, show a lovely little moment in which things just slide into place between the boys. Whether told from Sam's POV in the original or Dean's in the remix, this is a quiet, moving interlude. (Sam/Dean)
Recs from spnremixfics:
sevenfists did a beautiful remix in Landmarks (Wonders Bright and Rivers Remix). The language and imagery here is gorgeous, and the relationship dynamics feel very real. The original by estrella30, Landmarks, is exquisite, in a very different way. (both Sam/Dean)
Capacity by medicinal_mirth and the remix, Learning to Run by eloise_bright, both feature three sections that look at each of the Winchester men through the lense of running; running to train, running away, running to heal, running to try to hold on. There are differences between the two pieces, but they're both very well done and powerful. (both gen)
Oh my lord, trollprincess's The Days Don't End Here, My Friend will just break your heart into pieces. And then sanyin's remix, But Sometimes They Fly By, will grind the remnants into dust. Ouch. (Wincest, sort of; see story notes for both.)
Go the Other Way by sevenfists is scorchingly hot, not to mention hilarious. There's crossdressing for a cause, and leg shaving, and an infestation of imps, and did I mention the scorchingly hot? Yowza. And then troll_princess did a brilliant 2nd-person take on Sam's POV in her Go the Other Way (The Liquor in the Front Remix), which was an excellent, tongue-in-cheek complement to the original. Highly entertaining. (both Sam/Dean)
sanyin's Carry That Weight is unbelievably beautiful. The remix -- meet me on the sunny road by endora_taylor -- is kind of interesting; very different from the original in its cryptically post-apocalyptic bleakness. Of the two, I found the first to be more moving, but the second was a good illustration of how far it is possible to take a remix while still retaining elements of the original. (both Sam/Dean)
ethrosdemon's In Unison is a marvelously complex take on a throwaway line from the original story. (Sam/Dean)
Vid Recs:
Two Step - This vid by luminosity is just...indescribably lovely, both in concept and execution. (Sam/Dean overtones)
Crash by michaela3105 - This is the ultimate Sam/Dean video. I am without words. Scary amounts of talent here. (Sam/Dean)
No More Mr. Nice Guy by Rusalka Blue - Such a perfect song for the boys, and very well done. (gen)
The Official Supernatural Drinking Game by lsketch42 - Completely silly, but a fun little piece of fluff. (gen)
Why'd I recommend these stories?
Because I adore:
• Canon. Canon. Canon. (Did I mention that I'm a slave to canon?)
• Rock-solid characterization and voices that nail the fraternal bickering so
key to the relationship between the guys.
• Long, epic tales. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the multitude of
short pieces being posted to the LJ communities and lists, but I'm something of
a size queen when it comes to stories. Bigger is definitely better in my book.
(Provided it's not 200K of absolute crap, of course. Oh, wait, this isn't HP —
we should be safe.)
• A good wallow in angst and suffering, provided there is some eventual
positive resolution. (Not fond of the guys being left in pain and without hope,
ta very much. That's all too possible in this fandom. I live for those stories
that can sell me on a happy, or at least hopeful, ending.)
• Stories that include something resembling an episode-style plot. I like
seeing the guys interacting with their world, not just blowing each other in
the shower. (Well, most of the time, anyway.)
• Future!fic. (Unless it all goes horribly wrong and ends irrevocably in
tears, in which case, not so much. Makes my heart hurt.)
...and, generally speaking, I avoid:
• Stories that ooze romance and overt sentiment; i.e., those in which the guys
make like characters in a Harlequin/Silhouette/Mills & Boon novel. Just not
my cuppa.
• Stories in which one of the guys is: a) over-feminized or otherwise portrayed
as tiny, fragile, delicate or submissive; b) a cold-hearted borderline
psychopath (when not possessed by a demon, anyway); or c) a barely functional
traumatized victim of a nightmare past. I don't really see this fitting the
canonical portrayal of any of the lead characters, personally.
• Stories in which the any of the guys burst into tears on a regular basis.
Ewww. Unless it's parody, in which case, rock on.
• Pre-series Wincest. Not because I have a problem with the whole
underage thing (good lord, I read HP; clearly I have no shame), but because it
all had to end badly in order for the guys to wind up as estranged as they were
in the pilot. Ouch.
• Death stories. Because while I am not fond of the guys being left in pain and
without hope, I'm even less fond of them being left — well — dead. (Yes,
there's the occasional exquisitely written not-to-be-missed exception to this,
but I'll try to indicate this if I do chance to rec it.)
SPN Newsletter - All the daily doings in SPN land. An absolutely invaluable resource, for which I am eternally grateful.
The Lawrence Awards - Many amazing stories (both gen and slash) were nominated for these awards, and all are linked from here.
SummerCon Zine - Brought to us by svmadelyn and many incredibly talented authors, this zine contains some wonderful SPN stories (and excellent SGA as well).
Other Recs Pages:
(i.e., "yeah, what they said...")
crack_impala - A comprehensive recs community for gen, het, Wincest, RPS, vids & art, updated daily.
The Polyfannish Whores' Reccing Journal - Pretty much the reason I got sucked into this fandom. Curse them. :-)
Amalthia's SPN recs - She updates very regularly, bless her, and I tend to like many of her choices (though she's extremely fond of non-con, which I am emphatically not, so watch for the tags on the individual recs).
Killa's SPN recs - A fabulous long list of great fic in this fandom, including gen, Wincest, and everything else. She also has some terrific vid recs, and links to still more recs pages.
esorlehcar's SPN Recs That Ate the World - An incredibly exhaustive list, and everything on it is worth a read. (One caveat; she is a bit more tolerant of dark!fic than I, so I do read the story blurbs carefully.)
angstslashhope's SPN recs - She has an extensive recs list, a lot of it gen, and all of it good.
crack_van's SPN fic recs - Both gen and slash, and a nice introduction to the fandom's fic.