The Harry Potter Starter Kit

[icarus]

What would you recommend for the dewy-eyed, fresh slash reader, who has just stepped off the train into this wonderous world of Harry Potter slash? (Gen of course is acceptable, too. Het... do we even read het? *Icarus looks puzzled at the mere idea.*)

This hypothetical (actual) reader has no idea what they like or what they want. They've read all the books, and love them. They enjoy slash.

Naturally we would want to start them off with the best available, but gently. (amanuensis1's And Just Plain Wrong is probably not the first item on the list.)

Criteria:

- They would need to be completed fics. We can introduce them to the frustration and joys of the WiP later.

- We need a "sampler" cross-section of various pairings.
Student/Student mixes (Harry/Draco, Harry/Ron, Ron/Draco, Percy/Harry etc.), Student/Adult mixes (Harry/Snape, Harry/Lucius, Percy/Lucius etc.), Adult/Adult mixes (Snape/Lucius, Sirius/Remus, Sirius/Snape etc.) This like a box of chocolates, with many varieties. :D

- We need a mix from PG-13 to NC-17 PWP.

- We need to start with stories that have good solid plots.

- We want humour to start, then angst, then a PWP, etc.

- One-shots and epics welcome.

- Rare pairings are welcome, but since this is an intro, it's probably best to have more than one story in that pairing.

- We're looking for specific recs rather than rec-lists.

- We'll probably avoid the major squicks in the beginning: Incest, Non-Con, Chan, MPreg, Heavy Kink.

What would you recommend?

I'll consolidate this down to a, oh, top 20 or something later in the week, or at least put it in some semblance of an order.



In no particular order (yet) and still missing those fics that I haven't read or don't know the author, since I'll have to read those first to rec them to my friend-of-friend. Bear in mind that I threw away the "must be tame" requirement, and the "stick to popular pairings" requirement as well.

The Lodger - mad_martha, Harry/Draco
Art of War - kennahijja, Gen, Ron, Draco
The Lecture - Grindylowe, Gen, Snape
Call Of The Wild - WolfieTwins, Gen, Remus
A Bittersweet Poison - alchemia and Bugland, Harry/Snape
The Tea Series - Telanu, Harry/Snape
Sytherin Sky - kay_taylor, Snape/Lucius
In A Dream - Nope, Snape/Draco
Transfigurations - resonant8, Harry/Draco
The Familiar - resonant8, Harry/Snape
Circles of Power - mad_martha, Harry/Ron
Irresistible Poison - Rysenn, Harry/Draco
Slowly But Exceeding Fine - ellen_fremedon, Snape/Sirius
Stone Cold Sober - fabularasa, Sirus/Snape
Aftermath - josanpq, Snape/Ron
Civil War - wikdsushi, Harry/Snape
Consequences Of A Weary Mind - wikdsushi, Harry/Snape
Hallelujah series - dien, Snape/Dumbledore
Walking 'Round In Women's Underwear - dkwilliams
Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover - mad_maudlin, Ron/Draco
Beg Me For It - Icarus (cringes - two people included it - cringes some more), Ron/Draco
Minor Arcana - cursive, Harry/Draco, Remus/Draco, Harry/Snape...
Stealing Harry - copperbadge
Lust Over Pendle - ajhalluk, Draco/Neville
Double Or Nothing - ukcalico, Fred/George
The Badger Series - mistful, Draco/Zacharias
Door To the River - miraminx, Sirius/Remus
Discretion Required - ruhgozler, Harry/Lucius
The Way Of The World - scribbulus_ink, Snape/Lupin
A Nick In Time - tiranog
Just Add Water - cybelesan, Harry/Bill
Quill And Ink - cybelesan, Harry/Snape

Later in the list:
If You Are Prepared - cybelesan, Harry/Snape
A World Not So Black And White - amanuensis1

Het Fics.
Apparently The Draco Trilogy is more het than gen. Who knew? So...

The Draco Trilogy - epicyclical
Flame And Shadow - mistful, Ron/Pansy
Roman Holiday - Anna, Hermione/Draco, Hermione/Snape



ETA: I'll kick this off with Mad Martha's The Lodger Harry/Draco, which has an excellent plot, many funny moments, and a "canon" feel.

Then, A Bittersweet Poison, Harry/Snape, which has the most accurate rendering of Harry as a cat and a very convincing Snape.

I'll bend the rules (since part is complete) and recommend Telanu's Tea Series, too. It builds beautifully from being being fairly innocent to extremely steamy. I'll toss in the Coffee Series for good measure, because it's funnier than heck.

Let's see... next... mad_maudlin. Ron/Draco. Hmm... cross-dressing is kind of a mild kink, but Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover stands on the line between ruthless and fun. I'll probably put it further down the list though.

ETA2: Of course, everyone has to read epicyclical's Draco Trilogy (apologies to those who hate it, it is a must ;), and my personal favourite After The Flood.

In the Gen category, Call of the Wild by the Wolfie Twins.

Does anyone know any good Lucius slash?

ETA3: Okay, I've completely given up the ghost on keeping it tame. Some very valid points have been made about what has actually drawn people in to fandom. Most people have been drawn in by "heavy" fics.

So does anyone know any good GredNForge fics? Slash and Gen? I have Calico's incredibly hot Double Or Nothing. Anything else out there?

Comments

[the-gentleman.livejournal.com]

So what's the strawberry cream chocolate that nobody wants to eat except the strange kid in the corner?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Hey.

That's one of my favourites. And obviously it's Percy/Ron.

Icarus

[bella-the-dark.livejournal.com]

I would like to rec the following for a beginner. They are some of the first thing I read not so long ago.

Quills and Ink by Cybele www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/toc.htm for humor and student/teacher

Walking 'Round in Women's Underwear by Diana Williams http://diana.slashcity.com/lacy.htm humor adult/adult med kink

And your own Unexpected Guest humor threesome

These are still some of my faves.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thank you. I'd forgotten that dkwilliams had done that great Snape cross-dressing fic. ;) I usually think of her which I think of The Courtship of Harry Potter and that intense after-the-war, gosh, what was the name of it? All the wizards had their magic blocked by Muggles, but Harry had been hidden by the Dursleys?

Icarus

[villeinage.livejournal.com]

And astolat's latest tOlder, Wiser, Sadder. It's pre-slash if you squint hard.

And copperbadge's Stealing Harry. It's complete, it's sweet, it's a wonderful AU, there's a kid-friendly version--what more could you ask from a story?

And [Bad username or site: Tira Nog @ livejournal.com]'s A Nick In Time.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Who did A Nick In Time? I know of the story, though I'm way behind on fandom reading.

Icarus

[jackoweskla.livejournal.com]

McKay's The Way of the World (http://www.skyehawke.com/archive/story.php?no=1659). SS/RL romantic comedy. Snape playing the Sims. The lack of the Wizarding World allows this story to move in fun directions.

Also, Thing (http://www.waxjism.org/cimorene/hp/thing.html) by Cimorene and Wax Jism. I know most people either love or hate this story, but I love it with a passion. The build-up of Sirius and Remus's relationship, with the roadblock of... um... Lily (yes, I found something with het for you! Slash with het!). And the breathless trainwreck ending just blows me away.

[jackoweskla.livejournal.com]

Oh, and don't be afraid to have a wide variety of stuff. I remember my first slash was Sushi's In Academia (which I would not recommend to a first time slasher. I was going through a Voldemort-phase, so someone recced it to me. Although, now that I think about it, if you're looking for some hardcore angst Snarry The Last Dance might be a good thing to look at.)

[bluemoon02.livejournal.com]

Naturally, a little self-pimpage is in order ehre, and I couldn't kick off this delightful slash-fest without reccommending my completed Trials and Tribulations (http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=878170). PG-13-ish, Snape/Harry and Snape/Lucius.

Other than that, we can't go without introducing said newby to luciusmalfoy's stuff...Not sure if she's still got a site with Veela Inc or not....Might also try trawling Switchknife's recs...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm always a supporter of self-pimpage. *Icarus gives a thumbs up*

Trials and Tribulations, eh?

Icarus

[snitchnip-chill.livejournal.com]

I have to say that when I dragged my beta into fanfiction it was with your Beg Me For It series. :)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

No kidding? Whoa. That's an intense beginning. *Icarus attempts to not look inordinantly pleased. Fails, due to enormous (and rather surprised) grin.*

I'd better finish SNAFU today then. 36 pages written so far, out of about 45. And I'm pretty happy with the first 22 pages, the rest is a little rough.

Icarus

[mooders.livejournal.com]

What about my Dobby/Mandrake slash fic? I'm working on the sequal peice too!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/mooders/42503.html

(Also has a Tom Riddle/Giant Squid slash fic... House Elf/Crookshanks slash... Professor Binns/Peeves slash... Dobby/Ernie McMillan slash... Dobby/Remus slash... Tom/Harry slash... think they might want to read any of those, or would those be too squicky?)

-Oowth

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*snerk* That I would say definitely goes in the "other" category.

Icarus

[icarusinwax.livejournal.com]

Drat! Why no WIPs! I personally think newbies should stay as far away from Sirius/Remus fics, because .. *shudder*

I personally think WIPs should be allowed, not only because most of the best stories i know are WIPs, but it will also incite the person to want to read more and thus get even more sucked into HP slash. Imagine the joy you felt at reading A bittersweet potion, and then knowing there was yet more to come! *grovels* still no?

so much for my persuasive skills. If i had nicer thighs i'd post some scandalous pictures to convince you that my way is the best way.

( if this has worked then Maja's Underwater Light, since you mentioned Procul His already) :D

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

No, trust me, there is plenty of time for her to get into WiPs. Plenty of time. (Yes, I love UL, too. But it can't be on the starter list. Nor can my beloved Moving Pictures, or mctabby's Two Worlds And In Between...). But she'll get to them, have no doubt.

Icarus

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

For Harry/Lucius I recommend Discretion Required (http://www.geocities.com/ruhgozler/dr.html) (yeah, yeah self pimpage) for an adult consensual read. Also "A World Not So Black Nor White" by amanuensis1 at Inkstain and Restricted Section for crossgen.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*Icarus slaps forehead.* Of course! And I haven't read your newly edited version yet.

Oh. I have to add Rituals And Traditions to that list.

And what was the name of that piece by Hijja -- Night Over Azkeban, which is Harry/Lucius. And Art of War, Ron/Draco. What a talent for emotional tension.

Icarus

[thalia]

For Sirius/Remus, I'd say miraminx's Door to the River. I love her Lost Feeling series, too, which is S/R and Snape/Harry, but it's really too long for an intro rec.

"Contemporary Magical Innovations," which I don't have a link for on this computer but can track down if you need it. It's Snape/Harry, and it's very clever and funny. Also Resonant's The Familiar, which I absolutely adore.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Right! And Resonant's Transfigurations, though I don't want to overload the Harry/Draco category (even if it is representative)/

Miraminx, thank you. I knew she was writing a lot of good Sirius/Remus, but that's not a pairing I generally read. *nods* Wonderful.

Icarus

[tarnationawaits.livejournal.com]

For Lucius slash, this is just a one-shot but it's great and Lucius is very Lucius:

Black Roses (http://www.livejournal.com/users/eumenides1/21631.html) by eumenides1. (Lucius/Sirius, NC-17)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *Icarus adds it eagerly to the list.*

Is eumenides1 the some one who's voicing Dieter the Death Eater for after_survivor? Because I just laughed my ass off at a Dieter post yesterday (from the first two posts of the RPG).

Icarus

[femmequixotic]

My top newbie slash recs? *ponders* Hm...for starters....

1. Snape/Harry: wikdsushi's Civil War series. (This was THE fic that got me into HP slash.)

2. Ron/Draco: Your Beg Me For It series.

3. Snape/Harry; Harry/Draco, Remus/Draco, Snape/Draco: cursive's Minor Arcana series. (First two books in the series are complete, Consensio is still in progress.)

4. Harry/Ron: Mad Martha's Circles of Power series.

5. Percy/Lucius: The backstory you and sparrohawk wrote for hp_dungeons (Sweet Mary, Mother of God. *fans self*)

6. Snape/Draco: Nope's As In A Dream

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I would not have added any of my own fics to this list, since a) welcome to ego city and b) Beg Me For It, jesus. But you're the second one to mention it, so I'll include it. *Icarus blushes fiercely.* *Blushes even more fiercely over that Percy/Lucius for hp_dungeons, but not sure it works as a stand alone.*

Yes, Minor Arcana. And I was thinking of Circles of Power, too. Civil War, yep. Where can I find Nope's As In A Dream?

Icarus

[dancing-moon.livejournal.com]

fabularasa's many wonderful SS/SB fics... There's Stone Cold Sober and it's prequel Under the Influence, if they don't mind drug usage in fics, and Rats' Alley which I think is really one of the best Snape-as-a-vampire fics out there.

Also atdelphi for wonderful AD/SS

While both of these categorias are more sparse than say HP/DM, there are plenty of fics, many decent or even great, with these pairings. Or at least I think so ^_^

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, and we can't forget dien's incredible Snape/Dumbledore Hallelujah (http://www.geocities.com/ladydien/) series. Her site drives me bananas (I'm on a dial-up so the graphics are agony), but it's worth it.

Icarus

[anandangel.livejournal.com]

The Badger Series (http://www.lasairandmaya.com/badger1.html)The Badger Series by mistful.
Draco/Zacharias humourfic, in which there is shrugging. PG, set after OotP.


The Consequences Of A Weary Mind (http://www.societyhappens.com/sushi/fiction/my/hp/wearymind.html) by wikdsushi. Harry Potter's writing skills are, in a word, unique. Professor Snape is about to learn this in a most unforgettable way. HP/SS, NC-17, Humor.


Friend Like Me (http://www.geocities.com/owrai_fics1/hd/friendlikeme.htm) by Lady Vader. Draco's rendition of the Love story that never was. H/D, NC-17, Angst.

Slytherin Sky (http://www.angelfire.com/ego/vigilantgriffin/snape/fiction/kaytaylor-slytherinsky.html) by kay_taylor. Slytherin house in the MWPP era - featuring Lucius, Severus, a strange love triangle, snarkiness, Narcissa, intrigue, slash and a Halloween Ball (oh my!) SS/LM, Rated R, Angst.

Still Life (http://www.livejournal.com/users/monochromal/25299.html) by monochromal. Portraits. H/D.

Tissue of Silver (http://www.silververse.net/hp/tissue.htm) by fearlessdiva. A love story concerning possessed furniture, black silk pyjamas, courtroom drama, premonitions of doom, assassination attempts, Death Eater yoga, absinthe, bare feet and a sensible werewolf. H/D, Rated R.

I have more, but I should probably stop before you get overwhelmed.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

No, keep going. I'm not likely to be overwhelmed. All but two of these are new to me. (I love LJ!)

Thank you!

Icarus

^__^

[himiko-chan.livejournal.com]

I'm not one to dabble in other pairings, so I'll just recommend what I think is the best first HP/SS fanfic to read (for a first-timer)...

Bittersweet Potion Series

Tada! XD I really wanted to recommend the Tea Series for a first, but I felt that it might be a turn-off for a first-timer that the author hasn't written more of it in quite a long time ^^; Plus, Bittersweet Potion Series is very light but not *too* light. I think, in order to sway those into a fandom, you need to start a bit lighter and less darker... if that makes any sense *__*

Plus, it eases you into the characters and they start to *feel* believable :) That's my two cents, though ^^

I agree, with both A Bittersweet Potion and the Tea Series

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. They both ease you in, and I really think that each part of the Tea series stands pretty well alone. So, even though there's more, it's sequels we're waiting for, not the next chapter.

Telanu's just struggling with the next part. It's pretty heavy.

Icarus

[dissident-dream.livejournal.com]

There are so many good fics out there, that its quite difficult to choose one.

Although I would agree with the Lodger, and maybe add Transfigurations (http://trickster.org/res/transfig.html) by Resonant.

Personally the first slash fic I ever read was Irresistable Poison by Rhysenn, and it never did me any harm ;)

Oh crikey - have to add Cybeles If You Are Not Prepared... Love that fic

Transfigurations, nods, and Irresistible Poison. Boy... IYAP, yes, but later.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

If You Are Prepared is one of the greats. It has made an indelible impression on my mind.

But it's so intense, and her writing only slowly picks up steam. I'll put it on the list, but later, with a warning label. (Icarus adds scull and crossbones.)

Icarus

[titti]

ETA2: Of course, everyone has to read epicyclical's Draco Trilogy (apologies to those who hate it, it is a must ;), and my personal favourite After The Flood.

Three years in the fandom and I've still not read it. I should have a badge.

[scribbulus-ink.livejournal.com]

*high five* You and me both!

[cedarlibrarian.livejournal.com]

For Lucius slash, I'd recommend kennahijja's grocery list fics. Love, love her writing.

Snape/Sirius: ellen_fremedon's Slowly But Exceeding Fine. Really great Snape characterization and it'd still be a great story if she took out all the sex.

I thought the Draco Trilogy was het. Where have I been?

Yes, Night Over Azkeban, & Art of War -- Slowly But Exceeding Fine - Thank you!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Draco Trilogy -- Is it het? I think of it as Gen. *Icarus squints at fic.* Yeah, I suppose you could call it het.

Hijja has such a talent for emotional tension. Really impressive. Art of War is my favourite Gen of hers. Which of her Lucius stories would you recommend? I've only read Night Over Azkeban (I'm waaaaay behind on my reading.)

Icarus

This list needs more Josan ....

[mad-martha.livejournal.com]

.... so I'm suggesting "Aftermath", which is Ron/Snape, if I may.

Link: http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/josan/hp/after01.html

I love her fics, but this one has a special place in my heart.

And I'm honoured that The Lodger is on this list by the way - thank you *blushes*

Mad Martha

Martha?! I've been offline, writing SNAFU - when did you get an LJ??

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful! I'm off to friend right now.

Oh, I agree, Josan's Aftermath is the Ron/Snape classic. Not to mention heart-rending.

Icarus

[villeinage.livejournal.com]

Crucius, by Dolores Crane. It's utterly gorgeous: well-written and brilliantly structured. It has stayed on my top 10 Snarry list for years.

I think it's archived at Walking the Plank.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

I have quirky tastes, so my absolute favorite fics aren't going to suit your criteria for "starters." Kinks and rarepairs, that's what hooks me...

I do think that "Both Sides Now" by Predatrix is an excellent choice for a newbie's Snarry. Funny and believable and pretty hot besides.

I second "Slytherin Sky." *cough*inspirationforourEvan*cough*

I really shouldn't be making "starter" recs. Honestly. I've pointed people who aren't in the fandom at all to "Blood for a Parched Tongue" by amanuensis1 -- non-con, heavy kink SS/SB. Yes, I warned them what was in it. Yes, I was blushing like crazy to admit that I liked it. Luckily, the responses I got back were mostly "whoo, that's as dirty as you said it was, and damn, it's good." So it's a matter of knowing the audience to whom you're reccing, I guess.

I think my own "Immortal Beloved" had as many out-fandom readers as ones from within, but none outside the fandom who didn't know me from somewhere else, so I'm not sure it counts. And Snape/Rosier is a bit of a rarepair.

Yes, I do read some things that don't have Snape in them. Sometimes. Er. Right.

[tjstein.livejournal.com]

As far as het or gen fics go, I really liked Barb's Trilogy which starts with Harry Potter and the Psychic Serpent (http://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/Barb/PST01_Psychic_Serpent/)

Also have to rec Roman Holiday (http://www.witchfics.org/anna/romanholiday/index.html) and its sequels Jewel of the Nile and Last Tango in Paris (the latter is still WIP) which is a good Hermione-focused set of stories by Anna. I like her Draco characterization too.

I haven't seen Primer mentioned yet, that's my all time favorite Snape/Harry fic. That's the fic that got me hooked on slash, actually.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm creating something of a policy about my stuff. Obviously people who read this will be on my friendslist, so they probably like my stuff. So... unless it's mentioned more than once, I'm not putting my stuff on this list. So Beg Me For It's on it (way later in the list... hmm, I have to fix the order), but Unexpected Guest and Primer aren't. :)

Yep, for Het, Roman Holiday definitely belongs.

Gosh, I have trouble with Barb's makeover of Harry in Psychic Serpent. His scruffiness is what I like about Harry. If you really think it belongs on there, I'll include it.

Icarus

[marginaliana]

[Here via quickquote.]

May I suggest Parseltongue Tied? One of my favorites and it's got humor as well as some angsty angst.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that's an excellent. *Icarus makes note.*

Icarus

[machiavellian.livejournal.com]

For Snape/Lucius, I would recommend "The Lack of Morals (http://rpgplug.co.uk/Asylum/potter/hp.html)" arc by Tzigane and Kat. This story is epic epic epic and Severus is absolutely heartbreaking. It eventually ends up Snape/Draco, but it works. It really really does. It's one of the best fanfics in the fandom as far as I'm concerned.

[aralondwen.livejournal.com]

I have to second this rec. The Lack of Morals Arc is truly one of the best fics in this fandom and everyone should read it. And while we´re on the subject of Lucius slash, I have to rec Every Flavour Beans (http://inkstain.slashcity.net/isf/archive/24/everyflavour.html), in my opinion the best characterization of Lucius.

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

Off the top of my head, I'd recommend Helene's "Beyond the Veil" and any of marinarusalka's fics for newbies.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You're the second person to recommend Beyond the Veil and I've never read it.

Any specific fic of marinarusalka's? I'm not familiar with her work.

Icarus