Through Gates of Horn and Ivory
Author: Handful of Silence
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: G
Summary: Sherlock Holmes takes great care with the dreams he creates solely for John Watson.
Why: A really interesting AU, and also deeply romantic. I adore the interactions between Sherlock and Mycroft, but the sequel to this really shines. Make sure to read both!
Come and See
Author: definewisdom
Pairing: gen
Rating: R
Summary: John Watson is death. He wasn’t supposed to kill the cabbie at the end of A Study in Pink, Sherlock Holmes was supposed to die that night. But Sherlock’s still alive and now the world is starting to fall apart. The events of the whole series seen in a slightly more supernatural light. Also featuring “Anthea”, Harry and Sebastian as the other horsemen of the apocalypse, and exploring what it takes to become a myth.
Why: Some absolutely intriguing and wonderful stuff happens in this. The way the author describes John as being Death is quite interesting, especially considering he is in one way mortal and in London, and in other ways he’s all over the globe and all over the universe. I loved the various flashback scenes, and the way scenes from the series overlap with scenes on a plane that isn’t visible to humans. Spectacular imagery.
Quintessential
Author: thisprettywren
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: NC-17
Summary: In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Why: Utterly captivating from the very first. In this universe, every person is deprived of one of their five senses, and the way this world works is absolutely fascinating. Sherlock and John still manage to be their usual selves, and the way the author works in Hounds of Baskerville is really well-done. This is part one of a series, and I warn you, if you read the second one in the series (which doesn’t yet have a sequel) you will be left with one of the fucking worst cliffhangers I have ever read, omg. And by worst, I mean the best.
The Man Who Sold the World
Author: PrettyArbitrary
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: PG-13
Summary: If you remember getting exploded in 2010 and now it’s 2007, does that make you dead, insane, high, or a time traveller?
Why: A really fascinating and interesting fic. Both Sherlock and John are terrifically written, and the way they deal with their separation and circumstances is really unique to them. My only problem with this story is that it ends without an explanation, or an answer to the question posed in the summary. Still a wonderful, gripping read, though.
Parallel, Perpendicular, Parabola
Author: calamitybreak
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: G
Summary: 221B only has one floor.
Why: A short but really well-written fic that has elements of Doctor Who thrown in. If you’ve seen season 4 of Doctor Who, this is very similar to the episode “Turn Left”.
Stars Which Want Us Not
Author: anchors
Pairing: gen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sherlock has always been friends with John Watson, only once John was imaginary. Now he’s not.
Why: With a summary like that, how can you not be intrigued?? Wonderfully, achingly beautifully written, this deals with Sherlock if he had schizophrenia and the writing style echoes the struggles Sherlock has to undergo to seem “normal” - that is, brilliant but still as though he doesn’t have schizophrenia. A completely entrancing read.
The Queen’s Guard
Author: lavvyan
Pairing: gen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: In the caves of Afgahnistan, John died once already. But in a world ruled by creatures more terrible than divine, death isn’t always permanent, and when a half-human stranger stumbles into his life, John has to decided what he hates more: the Royal bloodline, or that peculiar heart which won’t let him die…
Why: I haven’t read any of the works that this fic is a crossover with, but I think it’s still hella fascinating. The way the different characters flit in and out in this AU are cleverly wrought, and the descriptions are unique and captivating. I personally don’t feel that you need to have any knowledge of A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman or the Cthulhu mythos of Lovecraft’s to really enjoy what this fic holds.
Some of Your Time
Author: lavvyan
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: G
Summary: Somewhere between the Tesco Metro and Baker Street, John has lost an entire hour.
Why: At first, I didn’t realize quite how AU this fic actually is, but it’s kind of similar to the use of time as currency, like in the movie with Justin Timberlake called Time, if you’ve seen that. I think the way Sherlock shows his affection is very him, and the ending is classic.
Practical Johnkeeping
Author: what_alchemy
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: R
Summary: Sherlock predicts nectar flow the same way he deduces a murder, but he harvests the honey like John coddles the dog.
Why: A lovely and I think very honest depiction of Sherlock and John much, much later in their lives. It’s not overly fluffy, but the emotion is still quite evident and beautifully written.
No Dictionary Sufficient in This Land of Men
Author: viklikesfic
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Rating: NC-17
Summary: John and Sherlock find something between them beyond, or perhaps around, words. Story elements include D/s themes and trans characters. Warning for transphobia and implied sibling abuse + very mild violence. Also, part one is John POV and part two is Sherlock POV
Why: Marvelous. I think the awkwardness that Sherlock has about his genitalia and the way he and John bridge that gap is very touching. I kind of thought the D/s portions of this kind of came out of nowhere, but it was still scorching hot sex.
