That should be pretty self-explanatory. :) At any rate, onward...
Variations on a Theme by James Grabowski and Geoff Upchurch
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 5/23/99
The story appears to have been abandoned, but it remains one of my all-time favorites. Long, dark, heavily psychological, and featuring a Shinji/Rei pairing--in short, not for the faint of heart.
Damaged by Elizabeth Tuckwood
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 2/27/99
A piece I once facetiously redubbed How to Ruin Four Lives in Five Easy Steps. Quite possibly the best one-shot I've ever read, in any genre--the author seizes your attention with the opening lines and never lets go.
Street Fighter: Warrior's Legacy by Gryphon
Genre: Street Fighter II
Recommended 1/27/99
This is a piece that you'd think doesn't have much going for it. It's based on Street Fighter--not exactly a source known for its deep storylines, even in comparison to other fighting games. It's a crossover with multiple fighting game series, comic book series, cartoons, and probably a few other things I've missed. Worst of all, it's a self-insertion by Eyrie Productions Unlimited, the same folks who created what is generally regarded as one of the worst SI characters ever (Neon Exodus Evangelion's DJ Croft). Yet, in spite of all the negative one would have going in, the piece not only survives--it thrives. Even if you know nothing at all about the characters, this story is flat-out fun to read...and that's not something I say lightly.
Sailor Moon: Millennials by The Judge
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 10/9/00
Like Warrior's Legacy, this story is one of those few that are genuinely fun to read, regardless of genre. The author has thus far struck just the right balance between serious drama and self-mocking humor to make this a compelling and memorable work.
Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian/S'TarKan
Genre: Harry Potter
Recommended 7/1/06
The Clearinghouse's first Harry Potter recommendation is a thing of beauty. After thirteen bloody years of war, Harry Potter has finally defeated Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately, at the end Harry was just about the only one left alive. When a chance discovery enables him to send his memories into the past, he jumps at the opportunity. This time, he'll do things right...or so he thinks...
Team 8 by Viridian/S'TarKan
Genre: Naruto
Recommended 7/1/06
The Clearinghouse's first Naruto recommendation (and second recommendation by this author). An AU, splitting off just after the first episode--what if Naruto had ended up on a different team, under the tutelage of a different jounin? Sit back and watch the changes snowball...
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever by Mark MacKinnon
Hosted on the Shadow Chronicles' home page
Genre: Sailor Moon/Ranma 1/2 (AU)
Recommended 7/14/03
Dark, gritty, gothic and engrossing--probably the most unique Ranma/SM crossover I've ever read. For those who desire a back-story, the first installment of the Shadow Chronicles, "Cast a Long Shadow," introduces Ranko (Ranma) Saotome; however, it's not required reading, because the story does a good job of introducing him on its own. (And the Sailor Moon side of the equation is probably the most drastic AU I've ever seen, so everyone will go in equally blind.) Highly recommended.
Bubbles in the Force by Vornsker22
Hosted at Club Jade
Genre: Star Wars
Recommended 12/13/99
The "misfit toys" storyline has been done before, but never quite this well. BitF is set against the backdrop of the original movie, and while elements from the SW novels and comics are also present, they are handled and explained so seamlessly as to be nearly indistinguishable from the author's own striking original cast. This story is a must-read.
The Four Horsemen, Frozen Time, Kiss of the Enemy, Under a Cloud, Secrets and Pictures at an Exhibition by Ken Wolfe
Hosted on Wolfe's fanfic page
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 2/23/99
The fanfics that almost single-handedly turned me into a Sailor Moon fan. For those with even a passing knowledge of Sailor Moon, this 2+ meg tour de force should be required reading. The series features some of the most striking characterizations and chilling plot twists ever conceived in a fanfic, and is marked by flawless execution throughout.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: R by Maher Al-Samkari
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 5/16/99
The Evangelion continuation fic, and a more than worthy counterpart to the movie End of Evangelion. If you've seen the TV series, there's no excuse not to read this.
The Bitter End by Zen
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/10/99
Take a pair of comedic elements to their logical conclusion, and you have a story that stands alongside Ken Wolfe's Secrets as the most depressing fanfic I have ever read. A masterful tragedy, in the classic style.
Stuff by Gheoghe2
Hosted at Club Jade
Genre: Star Wars
Recommended 10/9/00
This story has considerable sentimental value for me; it was the first fanfic I ever read, and the one that started me on the road to the Clearinghouse. (Don't hold that against it, though.) I recently went back to see how Stuff would hold up, given how the field has changed since it was first written. My answer: remarkably well. The grammar has always been problematic at best, and its main claim to fame--a rallying cry for the Luke-Mara pairing--has been muted with the canon confirmation of that relationship; nonetheless, the story was originally released with the subtitle "Luke Skywalker gets a life," and that theme rings as true and compelling today as it did then. Nearly a decade after its original release, this standing indictment of the popularized Jedi asceticism remains a landmark in Star Wars fan fiction.
Shampoo 1/2 by DB Sommer
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 10/9/00
A powerful and sweeping epic, with a majestic climax and one of the most satisfying endings I have ever encountered in a Ranma story. The undisputed king of the alternate reality.
The More Things Change by rpm
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 3/28/05
Author's summary: "Ranma chooses Akane! Akane chooses Ranma! Within the span of a day, things seem to be changing drastically in Nerima, with that one important issue cleared up. Life seemed to be settling into an almost normal state. And then Ryouga got engaged to Shampoo... and then there's that chemical accident with Kodachi... did we mention he's living with Ukyou? And now there's someone from his past with a grudge showing up... does all this sound familiar?" One of the all-time classics of Ranma fan fiction.
Quantum Destinies by Steven Theksen
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 8/22/99
The ultimate alternate reality fanfic, set in a Japan and featuring a Ranma so different from what we know that they have to be seen to be believed. But, as the saying goes, the more things change...
Conflicts of Interest by Madamhydra
Genre: Final Fantasy VII
Recommended 5/5/99
Not many people write dark epics like Madamhydra. Anyone wondering just how screwed up Cloud Strife really is need look no further--the character portrayed in this fanfic is chilling.
Ranma and Akane: A Love Story by Eric Hallstrom
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 12/12/99
The title may seem self-explanatory. It is...to an extent. At the same time, though, it is unlike any other Ranma-Akane romance in existence--a story infused with the "epic" feel so many authors strive for in vain. One can only hope that it hasn't been abandoned.
Hearts of Ice by Krista Perry
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/4/99
A near-flawless melding of Ranma 1/2 and Japanese mythology, shaped into a powerful romantic epic by a writer with a grasp of pacing that would leave many professional authors jealous. One of the finest Ranma-Akane romances not written by Rumiko Takahashi.
A Scary Thought by Wade Trischler
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 8/18/99
An alternate reality where Kasumi and Ranma have switched places. Quite well-written, and a fascinating look at a character who rarely takes the spotlight for herself.
A Very Scary Thought (aka Nabiki 1/2) by Jim Robert Bader
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 8/18/99
Replace Ranma with Nabiki. Throw in a half-dozen or so crossovers--shaken, not stirred--and apply extreme pressure. Then sit back, and enjoy.
Diamonds in the Rough by Brian Randall
Genre: Love Hina/Golden Boy/Ranma 1/2
Recommended 2/22/04
Just what the Hinata-Sou needed--another Toudai candidate trying to fulfill a promise....Love Hina serves as the base for this multi-crossover, so knowledge of that series is recommended--but given that, the story's good enough that I actually went out and bought the Golden Boy DVDs so that I could follow the story better. Very well-executed.
Vacation Days by DB Sommer
Genre: Tenchi Muyo!
Recommended 7/14/03
The walking disaster area otherwise known as Mihoshi Kuramitsu is ordered to go on vacation. Good news for the Galaxy Police. Bad news for Tenchi (who got dragged along for the ride), Ryoko and Aeka (who went after them), and anyone else who gets in their way. A brilliant work by the author of Shampoo 1/2.
Scion of Gryffindor by Crys
Genre: Harry Potter
Recommended 7/23/06
Harry receives a visit from the ghost of Godric Gryffindor that changes his life forever. Very firmly AU, from its premise to its pairing, but none the worse for it. An excellent work from the author of the Chessman Chronicles.
Power by Intrasonic
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 2/22/04
One of my greatest pleasures in reading fan fiction is finding a story that changes how I think about a fandom. It might be the quality of the writing; it might be the angle the author took; it might be something else altogether--but after reading one, I know with absolute certainty that I will never look at those characters and that series the same way again. Many of the works that appear in this section are stories of this type; Power, I'm happy to report, is another. Your typical Ranma love triangle on the surface--Akane vs. Shampoo, and whatnot--proceeds along a plotline that makes so much sense that by the end you wonder why no one ever thought of it before. Highly recommended.
The Chessman Chronicles by Crys
Genre: Highlander
Recommended 11/30/03
Self-insertions, crossovers, just plain original characters...the new Immortal on the block is easily one of the oldest and most popular plotlines in Highlander fan fiction. This fifteen-story series is among the best of them.
Sailor Moon Z by John Biles and Jeff Hosmer
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 4/22/99
The lighter, humorous side of Sailor Moon is extraordinarily difficult to capture in a fanfic. This series is one of the few to have succeeded, and done so with flying colors.
Higher Learning by Strike Fiss
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 10/9/00
An intriguing and upbeat piece that represents a nice change of pace from the usual gloom and disaster that permeate the Evangelion fandom.
A Cappella by Kit Spooner
Genre: Card Captor Sakura
Recommended 3/8/04
The Clearinghouse's first CCS recommendation features another pairing--Tomoyo/Eriol--that is, more often than not, completely butchered. This story does it right, from start to finish, with memorable characters, razor-sharp dialogue, and a believable romance that does not ignore pre-existing attractions. Highly recommended.
Father's Heart by FernWithy
Genre: Star Wars
Recommended 7/1/06
A four-part story cycle, proposing to examine the development--and, eventually, the deterioration--of a friendship between Leia Organa and Darth Vader in the years prior to the original movie trilogy. This was written before Revenge of the Sith, so it got Amidala's death wrong (of course, everyone before RotS got Amidala's death wrong, seeing as Lucas, for some unfathomable reason, decided to directly contradict Leia's recollections of her mother in Return of the Jedi), but it does pretty much everything else right. This was excellent.
Restoration by Rune Lai
Genre: Phantasy Star II
Recommended 8/11/04
Mother Brain was a threat to every living thing in the Algo solar system; there was no choice but to destroy her. However, Mother Brain was also the underlying support for virtually Algo's entire society, and destroying her had severe consequences. Rune Lai's chronicle of the efforts to rebuild Algo has become the definitive Phantasy Star II continuation, and with good reason.
Vengeance and a Half by Fire
Genre: Sailor Moon/Ranma 1/2
Recommended 12/15/99
A grim tale of alternate realities, time travel run amok, and good old-fashioned revenge. The author is one of the slowest writers in all of fan fiction, but what is here is well worth checking out.
Dead Man's Logic by Asa Sanderson
Hosted at RPGamer
Genre: Final Fantasy VI
Recommended 7/2/03
Kefka's personality may not have been as well-rounded as that of later villains in the series, but he's still one of the more...unusual figures to carry the Final Fantasy banner. This is perhaps the best portrayal of the maniac I've ever seen...and in first-person, at that! A rare treat.
Bedroom Diplomacy: Blanket Statement and Sound Bites by Jeff Morris
Genre: Tenchi Muyo!
Recommended 3/28/05
Marriage, like everything else, has its ups and downs. When you're married to two women as...interesting as Ryoko and Ayeka, those ups and downs can be a bit steeper than you might like...
The Slayers Trilogy: Reflect, Chaos, ReBirth by Stefan Gagne
Genre: Slayers
Recommended 2/22/04
Vast, sweeping, and cataclysmic--the epitome of Slayers fan fiction. Those willing to brave this work should stock up on the necessary provisions beforehand--you have a long and absorbing ride ahead of you.
Honour and Pride by Beer-monster
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 5/11/04
Nerima is home to an unusual number and variety of martial artists--but it's hardly the be-all and end-all of martial arts. When Ranma gets his face grinded in that unpleasant reality, his reactions, and those of the people around him, make for an interesting tale. The author's expertise and fascination with martial arts shine through this story, lending it a ring of authority for which many Ranma fanfics strive in vain.
Two Pair by L.M. Griffin
Genre: X-Men
Recommended 11/30/03
Well. I don't really know what to say. It's an X-Men story, with a Jubilee/Gambit pairing. The last contact I had with anything X-Men was back in the early to mid-90s, when Fox Kids was showing the old cartoon on weekday afternoons--and I've never read a single issue of the comics. I barely recognized most of the characters, and I'm still recommending this story. That should say something.
Chosen by Rakna
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 7/1/06
A fascinating and highly detailed AU treatment of Evangelion in a fantasy milieu. The author is better known for his somewhat problematic "The One I Love Is..." but this is, in my mind, a far superior work.
Nocturne by Aondehafka
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 2/22/04
By the time the manga finally ended, Ranma 1/2 was as chaotic as could be--and as inconclusive. (As the author of a previous Clearinghouse recommendation put it, Ranma 1/2 "is the story of how Saotome Ranma and Tendo Akane, despite many obstacles and difficulties, do not get married.") A number of people--myself included--believe Takahashi pulled the plug on the series because it had finally reached a point where even she had no idea how to resolve everything. It should come as little surprise, then, that countless fanfics have tried to do what the creator couldn't...or that I could probably write three rants on all the pitfalls such stories typically fall into. Nocturne isn't a complete success, but it comes closer than any other resolution-fic I've read, with a refreshng lack of slip-ups.
Midnight Pirouette by +Gradient
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 8/11/04
This sequel to an earlier work (The Weakest Link, which should be read first) presents a drastically different take on the bookends of the Sailor Moon mythos. I have very little patience for revisionist fanfics that try to portray good as evil and evil as good, as is the case with most stories that try to subvert either the Silver Millennium or Crystal Tokyo; this story, by contrast, does both while at the same time staying true to what they were originally intended to be. The heroes are still heroes, and that is so rare in stories of this kind that I think +Gradient deserves a medal for managing it.
I Know What's Beneath the Snow Fields by Zahra
Genre: Final Fantasy VII
Recommended 2/6/99
One of the lengthier and better-known FF VII fanfics on the 'Net, Snow Fields deserves even more credit for being one of the only stories to successfully pull off an Aeris resurrection. Well worth the read.
Ill Met by Starlight by Susan Doenime and Mike L.
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/16/99
It's amazing what a difference an attitude makes...the fanfic pinnacle of the psychological thriller. Steven King would be proud.
Children of an Elder God by John Biles and Rod M.
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion/Cthulu
Recommended 12/20/99
Imagine an Evangelion where the plot twists and imagery taken from Christianity and Judaism were replaced with pagan and astrological elements drawn the darkest imaginings of H.P. Lovecraft. Biles and Rod M. got there first, I'm afraid...it should be interesting to see where it takes them.
Alis In Training by Joel Fagin
Genre: Phantasy Star
Recommended 6/12/03
The author's professed impatience with what he calls "the Hollywood style of sword fighting" is certainly our gain! You don't need to be familiar with Phantasy Star to enjoy this story, and it should be required reading for anyone who has ever written a swordfight (or thought of writing one)
Drunkard's Walk by Robert M. Schroeck
Genre: Original/Bubblegum Crisis/Oh! My Goddess!
Recommended 2/22/04
Universe-hopping gone very, very wrong. A number of fandoms have been laid out for incorporation into this series; however, at the moment only the crossovers with BGC and OMG (in progress) are available.
White Knight, Grey Queen by Jeconais
Genre: Harry Potter
Recommended 7/1/06
It's not exactly a secret that I'm a sucker for unlikely, well-done romances. So this fic, which pairs off Harry Potter with Pansy Parkinson, was a pretty easy call. When a fallout with Lucius Malfoy lands the Parkinsons on Voldemort's short list of problems to be solved, Harry gains some powerful--and highly motivated--new backers, who are going to do whatever it takes to see that he defeats Voldemort...whether Harry's other friends and allies like it or not.
Eternal Sunshine of the Scourgified Mind by Solstice Muse
Genre: Harry Potter
Recommended 7/1/06
The battle is over, and Voldemort has been vanquished--but at a heavy price. Harry, Hermione, and Ron have lost all memories of magic--and of anything associated with magic. On top of which, two of the three are missing...
Dark Reflection by Nick Midian
Genre: Buffy/Highlander
Recommended 7/21/04
Xander is Immortal. Xander is also a vampire. Bad combination...especially when Xander's friends don't know about the first part.
Nabiki: New Horizons by G.L. Sandborn
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/7/99
Hands-down, my favorite Ranma romance. Nabiki's characterization is fascinating, even if I don't agree with the direction the author has taken the Tendo family's background, and her counterpart (for once, thankfully, not Kuno) is surprisingly strong. Also, the author has a grasp of the humor inherent in the Ranmaverse on a par with anyone short of the creator herself; chapter 6, in particular, is a classic.
The Complexities of Human Interaction by Random1377
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 5/23/04
It's been my experience that one of the signs of a skilled Evangelion author is the proper utilization of the oft-overlooked Hikari Horaki. Used right, she is capable of offering insights not available to any other character in the series; this story, in which she is the protagonist, is an excellent example of that.
Pastpresent by Susan Doenime
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 1/25/00
A light-hearted tale of the older generation, told in the finest tradition of The Wonder Years.
Sailor Moon 4200 by Angus MacSpon
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 12/18/99
Crystal Tokyo is generally held to be the be-all and end-all of the Sailor Moon timeline--Naoko Takeuchi's "happily ever after," so to speak. This story turns that assumption on its head, and spins from it a truly fascinating tale.
Icebreakers by Suppi No Miko
Genre: Card Captor Sakura
Recommended 6/12/05
There's probably some irony in the fact that I normally can't stand Tomoyo/Eriol fanfics--every CCS fic I've recommended thus far has had this pairing. Regardless. The pairing is of secondary import here; this trilogy is a celebration of the characters and their interactions, in all their charming, aggravating, devious glory: in short, the quintessential Card Captor Sakura fanfic.
Free Fall by Clea Saal
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 3/13/99
Okay. You want dark? This is dark. This is about as dark as you could possibly get. I love it. It takes a bit of effort to keep yourself oriented in reading this story--something which I suspect is very much intentional on the part of the author, and completely appropriate given the subject matter (which, despite the NC-17 rating, is non-explicit). Powerful writing.
Sunshine in Winter by Guardian1
Genre: Final Fantasy VII
Recommended 3/8/04
Like most people, I'm not a big fan of Yuffie/Vincent pairings. Unlike most people, it's because of my distaste for Vincent, not Yuffie. That didn't stop me from enjoying this story, and it shouldn't stop you, either--this is very, very well written.
Out of Time by SiriusFan13
Genre: Rurouni Kenshin
Recommended 7/1/06
The Clearinghouse's first RK recommendation. During a trip to Kyoto, Himura Kenshin somehow travels back in time 13 years. Can he survive the Revolution a second time? For that matter, can his younger self--who was dragged into the future at the same time--survive in the (relatively) peaceful Meiji?
Genma's Daughter by Deborah Goldsmith
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 5/30/05
One of the more controversial Ranma fanfics in recent memory, with a unique take on the premise that the title character was born a girl. Genma's Daughter has two sequels--Equal Halves and Notes from Juillard--which are both just as good as the original, if not better. All are highly recommended.
What Evil Lurks by Greg Taylor
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 8/16/99
A superbly done alternate reality. One of the Senshi is kidnapped and turned by the Dark Kingdom.
Ranma Goes to War by J. Austin Wilde
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/19/99
Fan fiction's answer to All Quiet on the Western Front captures trench warfare as only a soldier could have. Verging on an act of literature.
Slayers Demiurge by Stefan Gagne
Genre: Slayers
Recommended 5/30/05
The other major Slayers work by the author of the Slayers Trilogy. The legend of Lina Inverse didn't die when Lina herself gave up adventuring (under very peculiar circumstances, mind you). Now, twenty years later--with Lina's rebellious daughter in tow--the legend embarks on a quest to find out just what the heck happened to her...
Strangers in a Strange Land by Pat Olsen
Genre: Ranma 1/2, Saber Marionette J
Recommended 3/28/05
Long ago, Tatewaki Kuno arranged to record the memories of a few of his favorite women. Now, one of his descendents on Japoness has taken those memories and implanted them in marionettes--with maiden circuits. You know no good can come of this...
Way of the Ninjitsu by Jason Wong
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 9/1/04
Ranma, in his first manifestation of the Nekoken, is acquired and raised by a ninja clan. Interesting AU, with engaging original characters and entertaining dialogue.
Assassin's Loyalty by Dro'gan NiteFlier
Genre: Sailor Moon
Recommended 6/21/04
A very AU look at the childhood of one of the Senshi. Assassin's Loyalty is the prequel to a longer story called Life's Blood, which is also worth a read.
Never Cut Twice by shadowmaster62
Genre: Naruto
Recommended 7/1/06
After his spectacular failure to retrieve {SPOILER--if you've watched/read far enough into the anime/manga, this should be obvious} a despondent Naruto fakes his own death, flees Konoha, and becomes a missing-nin. Unrealistic portrayal of Akatsuki, when they show up, but this story isn't meant to be all that serious, so it works very well for what it is.
Shards by Frank Verderosa
Genre: Final Fantasy VII
Recommended 1/7/00
Quite possibly the finest prequel fanfic available on the Internet today.
Bliss by Mike Loader and Lara Bartram
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 4/13/99
Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out. This story starts with a blank slate and builds a vivid adventure-romance, crowned by one of the most stunning (and well-concealed) plot twists in Ranma fan fiction.
Little Things by Jeffrey Vasquez
Genre: Ranma 1/2
Recommended 3/28/05
"Fact: Every big thing is made up of a bunch of little things. Probability: Little things, when grouped together just right, tend to come together incredibly fast. Possibility: Little things are often bound by the Cascade Principle; a.k.a. the Butterfly and Hurricane Metaphor." A nicely done Ranma/Kasumi romance.
Normal by Random1377
Genre: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Recommended 9/1/04
The appeal of Rei Ayanami often seems to mystify those who are not fans of the series (and, to be fair, a considerable number of those who are fans, as well...most of whom, in my experience, seem to think that Asuka is the summation of everything good and right in the world :P). This story probably won't explain that appeal if you don't get it, but it does demonstrate why she is such a potent tool in the hands of a skilled writer. Her near-innocent incomprehension of basic human interactions, combined with her matter-of-fact bluntness, turn what is otherwise a mundane sequence of events into a very interesting character examination.
20/20 by Lunaludus Scribex
Genre: Final Fantasy VII
Recommended 8/11/04
Charges of nepotism motivating this recommendation are probably not without merit, since I was a beta reader for this story. Regardless--it's a well-written piece, with a very different portrayal of Aeris' character.