Fanfiction...and other crap by Diandra Hollman

I was reading a book recently - one of the many approaches to fan writing communities from the perspective of academia - and it featured very detailed discussions of specific works in one fandom. I felt the same way I had when I had to sit through movies in film studies class because the teacher loved them and thought they were perfect examples of XYZ. I kept thinking there had to be better examples. Or more examples. Anyway. It got me thinking about my favorite stories I've read over the years and I figured I'd share my reading list. Literally all but the very last one of these are slash m/m pairings.


General Sherlock:
Electric Pink Hand Grenade by BeautifulFiction 
BeautifulFiction has a talent for painting images with words that I envy. Her writing is always gorgeous and visceral, but I always come back to this one as my favorite. The non-sexual intimacy between Sherlock and John throughout the story is almost better than the actual sex when it happens at the end. It is also a great demonstration of fan writing (as opposed to original writing) in general because everyone is SO in character that it is easy to imagine the story being canonical. People often think writing other people's characters is easier than writing original characters, but that is just not true. It takes a certain ability to write someone else's characters WELL and BeautifulFiction has it.

The Great Sex Olympics of 221B by XisetentialAngst
Okay, so I guess I should say that the book was "Sherlock's World" and this was the story I thought of when the author was going on for pages about "A Cure for Boredom" and how Sherlock approaching sex from a scientific angle made it totally believable. I kept thinking this was a much better example because not only were they conducting a full study with variables to determine sexual prowess, but the whole thing was concocted as a competition to most accurately decide which of them is the better lover. It's hilarious as well as hot.


Time Travel/MultiWorld Sherlock:
In a Changing Age by allonsys_girl
The author of the book also referenced a story floating multiple universe theory as a way of blending real and fictional worlds. I'll get to real world fics later, but this is one of the best JohnLock stories I read that explores other variations on Sherlock Holmes canon.


General MCU:
A Measure of Mercy by MianMimi (character abuse and angst)
Achingly beautiful and tragic. I couldn't stop thinking about this one after I read it. My first bookmarked MCU story.


Alternate Universe:
I'll Carry the Moon series by 1electricpirate (Sherlock Omegaverse)
I firmly believe that people who rant about how awful A/B/O fics are have just never read a good one. All of my favorites present a world that isn't all that far removed from "The Handmaid's Tale". One of the most striking and obvious examples of this I unfortunately can no longer find (it was in a different fandom pre-AO3), but this is one is probably better written anyway.

Ship of Dreams by eponine119 (Lost, historical AU)
One of the tragedies of the various purges fandom has gone through over the years is that this story may no longer on Livejournal where I found it. What was striking about it was that it didn't just drop characters from "Lost' into James Cameron's "Titanic" and call it a crossover AU, eponine119 effectively wrote an entirely new (if similar) story featuring details that were never in the movie even though they were documented as part of actual history. Basically, she rewrote "Titanic" entirely with characters from "Lost" and a focus on a slash pairing (Jack/Sawyer). It remains one of the best, well researched AUs I have ever read in any fandom.

gemjam's college AU (Lost)I know people have a weird relationship with RPF/RPS in fandom. I was once shamed and barred from recommending an author because she found out I read "those stories". The thing is, like A/B/O, it totally depends on WHAT you are reading. I tend to avoid self-insert and reader-insert stories but I'm pretty sure even most of the authors who write those are perfectly cognizant of the line between reality and fiction, even if the stories are self-indulgent Mary Sues. This series is an example of RPS done well AND an example of sex scenes that have a perfect amount of realism (Tom ruining the moment by slipping into a Matthew McConaughey accent is hilarious).

A Day Out with Benedict Cumberbatch by Detective in Training
This one doubles as a parody. A brilliant send up of every self/reader-insert story, so exaggerated it's hard to imagine anyone actually taking it seriously. The surprise ending makes reading comments especially fun: a mixed bag of "WHAT DID YOU JUST MAKE ME READ?!" and cackling laughter.


I'm sure there are many others, but these were the first that sprung to mind.

I guess now is as good a time as any to start posting this one.

E-Mail: diandrahollman@gmail.com
Website: http://diandrahollman.neocities.org
Rating: R for now, NC-17 for later, hopefully
Keywords: AU, John/Sherlock, past John/Mary, John is a widower, Baby Watson, hurt/comfort, magic!John, healer!John, evil!Moriarty, hurt Sherlock, torture, mentions of rape, captivity, emotional blackmail, suggestions of period homophobia
Spoilers: What are those again?
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Arthur Conan Doyle, specific iterations of them belong to the BBC and the "Sherlock" team. The plot is based on my memory of a romance novel I read years ago but can't seem to find now. If anyone recognizes it, let me know so I can give proper credit.
Summary: Sherlock is being held captive by the sadistic Lord Moriarty. John, an Empath, is Lord Moriarty's personal physician (and, effectively, also a captive). When they meet, they might just find the courage to break each other out.
Dedication: To my friends and this lovely fandom for all of their encouragement and support.
Author's Notes: I have never written a historical story before. I don't have an exact date for when this is taking place, but it's at least a hundred years before Doyle's original stories in a sort of alternate universe where some people have magical powers (though many probably don't advertise it for fear of being declared a witch).



( The Healer )

Title: Restoration
Author: Diandra Hollman
E-Mail: diandrahollman@gmail.com
Website: http://diandrahollman.neocities.org
Rating: Hard R
Keywords: Hurt/Comfort, John/Sherlock, rape recovery, emotional hurt/comfort, PTSD, hurt Sherlock
Spoilers: No
Disclaimer: Not my characters
Summary: "You get the call in the dead of night. early enough for you to not be quite deeply asleep yet, but late enough to be distressing. Because nobody calls at such an hour unless something has gone horribly wrong."
Author's Notes: This deals with the aftermath of sexual assault. The actual assault is never "shown", but will be partially described by the victim. I have never been a victim of such violence, so I won't pretend I understand what this is like, but I will endeavor to do right by all the people who have survived something like this.

All previous chapters here or on AO3


( Sherlock goes back to casework )

I'm still reeling over the way the world has been turned upside down this week. I'm not sure when I'll be able to focus enough again to write anything, but I'm hoping offering up something I had already written might prove therapeutic. I know I can somewhat relate to the way Sherlock feels in this chapter, even if the reason for my grief isn't quite so direct.


Title: Restoration
Author: Diandra Hollman
E-Mail: diandrahollman@gmail.com
Website: http://diandrahollman.neocities.org
Rating: Hard R
Keywords: Hurt/Comfort, John/Sherlock, rape recovery, emotional hurt/comfort, PTSD, hurt Sherlock
Spoilers: No
Disclaimer: Not my characters
Summary: "You get the call in the dead of night. early enough for you to not be quite deeply asleep yet, but late enough to be distressing. Because nobody calls at such an hour unless something has gone horribly wrong."
Author's Notes: This deals with the aftermath of sexual assault. The actual assault is never "shown", but will be partially described by the victim. I have never been a victim of such violence, so I won't pretend I understand what this is like, but I will endeavor to do right by all the people who have survived something like this.

All previous chapters here


( John goes back to work )

I am so nervous about this one. It is very plot driven, but so far I am enjoying the challenge of writing it. It is enormously fun writing these characters. It's a work in progress, but I have the entire thing mapped out in my head, so hopefully I'll have it finished by the time season five airs.


E-Mail: diandrahollman@gmail.com
Website: http://diandrahollman.neocities.org
LJ: http://diandrahollman.livejournal.com
Date Finished: ?
Rating: vacillates between R and NC-17
Keywords: Sherlock/OMC, Tom Hiddleston fancast, unrequited John/Sherlock, dubious consent, drugs, slash, Sherlock POV
Spoilers: nothing past "His Last Vow"
Disclaimer: This started out as a sort of "50 First Dates" Johnlock story and morphed into this psychological Girl on the Train/Before I Go To Sleep fusion-ish thing. The characters are all from BBC Sherlock, except Henry.
Summary: Every day I wake up not remembering how I got here or who this man is who claims he's my husband. I cannot trust my own memory. There is only one thing of which I am reasonably certain: John Watson is dead. Isn't he?
Dedication: Thank you to Kate and Emilio for their invaluable help and support with this story.
Author's Notes: Henry is an amalgam of several characters from ACD cannon, with an original modern spin. In my little headcannon he is played by Tom Hiddleston.

This takes place sometime after season 3.

( I wake up with John's name on my lips. )

I need to apologize for taking so LONG to finish this story. I could make excuses about my life and my job getting in the way (which is partly true since I've gone through three major deaths in the extended family and been spending a lot more time on work stuff), but I think the main reason I couldn't bring myself to finish this was the sense of finality that came from putting the words "the end" on it. This is my longest, most ambitious, and probably my best story in the Lost fandom. I have not been inspired to write fic in any other fandom since, so some part of me suspected that the minute this story (and a couple other shorter Lost works) was done, I would be finished with writing and fandoms.

That being said...I am currently working on a Sherlock plot bunny that has been biting at my ankles for months. I'll try to post a preview of it soon. Since this is my first attempt at actually participating in that fandom (as opposed to just observing from the outskirts), I would love any suggestions for places to post. Do I have anyone on my friends list who is a fellow Sherlock fan?

Thank you, everybody who has stuck by me while I slowly got through this story. You have been wonderful!

Another Life
by Diandra Hollman

Rating: PG-13 this chapter.
Date Finished: 1/23/15 (I take it as providence that I finished it on a date containing two of the Numbers)
Keywords: slash, Jack/Sawyer, Alt!Verse, first time
Spoilers: Nothing really detailed or time specific. This just lives in the sideways verse of season 6. Sort of (see author's note).
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I'm not really sure anyone *technically* owns them anymore but Darlton blah blah Bad Robot blah ABC blee blee don't sue.
Dedication: To ellel for inspiring me to write this story. And to the cast and creative team behind one of the best damn shows ever televised. You will be missed.
Summary: “In another life, I would make you stay so I don’t have to say you were the one that got away.” The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
Author's note: Much as I loved the finale and thought it was totally appropriate this story will henceforth assume that Daniel's "let's detonate a hydrogen bomb" plan worked and follow my crackpot version of quantum suicide theory. In other words, when the bomb went off, our characters were split into two different universes. One where the bomb didn't go off, and one where it did. Both universes are very real and neither is purgatory.

Previous entries

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( Five more minutes )