Compiled by the Espresso Addict

Espresso Recommendations

Innovative and stylish fanfiction, showcasing the very best across multiple sf, fantasy & literature fandoms. Good writing in all its forms can be found here, including gen, het, slash, OCs, AUs, crossovers, future fics, humour & pastiche

Contents: 1010 recs in 235 fandoms; 65 links

Sherlock Holmes

Irene Adler

Commonplaces by Astolat

'He was, she thought, very much like Godfrey:...The sort of man who would trust in what a friend told him, unquestioningly, because even to puzzle would be faintly disloyal. Easy to fool such a man, and more than a little cruel to do so.' A perceptive look at Irene Adler, after her story is supposed to be over, which fits a great deal into its short length. Simply beautiful

[Added 21/07/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes, Godfrey Norton, OCs]


James Moriarty

Requiem at Reichenbach by Alixtii

'A single fleck of dust can so alter the path of an asteroid so as to crash it into a planet or to drive it into the star around which it orbited.' The author creates an interesting voice from the bland evil overlord of canon as Moriarty teaches Holmes more than mathematics

[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]


John Watson

Absurdly Simple by Irene Adler

Irene Adler has managed that rare mixture of intricate detective-story plotting, character development and black humour in this classic tale of blackmail. She also writes an excellent simulcrum of the good doctor's style

[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]

The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by Mary Crawford

'"My dear Hopkins," said Holmes, "if a troupe of performing elephants had paraded through this house, the damage could not have been greater."' This plausible short adventure could easily be a missing story from canon, but it's really made by the intriguing glimpse it offers into Holmes' past

[Added 21/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Stanley Hopkins, OCs]

For England, Home and Beauty by Cimorene

An awful lot of H/W first-time stories exist, and mostly they've rather a generic feel. Cimorene, however, manages to manoeuvre Holmes into bed whilst keeping him believably in character in this short piece set around 'The Bruce-Partington Plans'

[Added 29/10/2004; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes]

The Maiden Voyage of the Tiresias by Shalott

'Faithful readers of these accounts of my adventures with Holmes will not be surprised, I dare say, to learn that it was not often that I was able to gain the better of my friend. His intellect and skills were of so rarefied a nature that indeed, there were few men who could lay claim to such a triumph.' Few writers pull off Watson's prose as well as Shalott, and this is a real treat

[Added 29/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes]


Sherlock Holmes

Absurdly Simple by Irene Adler

Irene Adler has managed that rare mixture of intricate detective-story plotting, character development and black humour in this classic tale of blackmail. She also writes an excellent simulcrum of the good doctor's style

[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]

The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by Mary Crawford

'"My dear Hopkins," said Holmes, "if a troupe of performing elephants had paraded through this house, the damage could not have been greater."' This plausible short adventure could easily be a missing story from canon, but it's really made by the intriguing glimpse it offers into Holmes' past

[Added 21/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Stanley Hopkins, OCs]

Commonplaces by Astolat

'He was, she thought, very much like Godfrey:...The sort of man who would trust in what a friend told him, unquestioningly, because even to puzzle would be faintly disloyal. Easy to fool such a man, and more than a little cruel to do so.' A perceptive look at Irene Adler, after her story is supposed to be over, which fits a great deal into its short length. Simply beautiful

[Added 21/07/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes, Godfrey Norton, OCs]

For England, Home and Beauty by Cimorene

An awful lot of H/W first-time stories exist, and mostly they've rather a generic feel. Cimorene, however, manages to manoeuvre Holmes into bed whilst keeping him believably in character in this short piece set around 'The Bruce-Partington Plans'

[Added 29/10/2004; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes]

The Maiden Voyage of the Tiresias by Shalott

'Faithful readers of these accounts of my adventures with Holmes will not be surprised, I dare say, to learn that it was not often that I was able to gain the better of my friend. His intellect and skills were of so rarefied a nature that indeed, there were few men who could lay claim to such a triumph.' Few writers pull off Watson's prose as well as Shalott, and this is a real treat

[Added 29/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes]

Requiem at Reichenbach by Alixtii

'A single fleck of dust can so alter the path of an asteroid so as to crash it into a planet or to drive it into the star around which it orbited.' The author creates an interesting voice from the bland evil overlord of canon as Moriarty teaches Holmes more than mathematics

[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]


Miscellaneous

Absurdly Simple by Irene Adler

Irene Adler has managed that rare mixture of intricate detective-story plotting, character development and black humour in this classic tale of blackmail. She also writes an excellent simulcrum of the good doctor's style

[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]

The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by Mary Crawford

'"My dear Hopkins," said Holmes, "if a troupe of performing elephants had paraded through this house, the damage could not have been greater."' This plausible short adventure could easily be a missing story from canon, but it's really made by the intriguing glimpse it offers into Holmes' past

[Added 21/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Stanley Hopkins, OCs]

Requiem at Reichenbach by Alixtii

'A single fleck of dust can so alter the path of an asteroid so as to crash it into a planet or to drive it into the star around which it orbited.' The author creates an interesting voice from the bland evil overlord of canon as Moriarty teaches Holmes more than mathematics

[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes; Characters: James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, OCs]