Community Recs Post!
Dec. 25th, 2025 10:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
glitteryv posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
recthethingEvery Thursday, we have a community post, just like this one, where you can drop a rec or five in the comments.
This works great if you only have one rec and don't want to make a whole post for it, or if you don't have a DW account, or if you're shy. ;)
(But don't forget: you can deffo make posts of your own seven days a week. ;D!)
So what cool fics/fanvids/podfics/fancrafts/fanart/other kinds of fanworks have we discovered this week? Drop it in the comments below. Anon comment is enabled.
BTW, AI fanworks are not eligible for reccing at recthething. If you aware that a fanwork is AI-generated, please do not rec it here.
Wishing everyone Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) and a Happy Thursday (if you don't.) 😉
This works great if you only have one rec and don't want to make a whole post for it, or if you don't have a DW account, or if you're shy. ;)
(But don't forget: you can deffo make posts of your own seven days a week. ;D!)
So what cool fics/fanvids/podfics/fancrafts/fanart/other kinds of fanworks have we discovered this week? Drop it in the comments below. Anon comment is enabled.
BTW, AI fanworks are not eligible for reccing at recthething. If you aware that a fanwork is AI-generated, please do not rec it here.
Wishing everyone Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) and a Happy Thursday (if you don't.) 😉
Book #08 Der Markisenmann by Jan Weiler
Dec. 25th, 2025 04:35 pmtinny
Der Markisenmann by Jan Weiler
i read book 7 before this but the draft is on my computer at home. i will post it once i'm home again.
For some reason, this book has not been translated to English. Considering it seems to be on the German school curriculum and is by far the author's most popular novel, that surprised me. Oh, well.
It's not like I liked it that much, so you're not missing out. ;)
Kim, 15 years old, and unhappy growing up with her mother, her stepdad and half-brother, has to spend the summer with her father, who she has never met before. Both of them carry a large guilt. Her father is trying to make up for his by selling unsellable old product door-to-door, and she starts helping him.
some thoughts, non-spoilery
* It took me three chapters to figure out that the main character is a girl - that was weird. I still don't quite trust the author to realistically write a 15-year-old girl, even after having read that book and being unable to put my finger on exactly why.
* From the very start, I had trouble identifying with the main character. I don't think I want to blame the author, I'm just not very interested in 15-year-old girls and their problems, even if those problems are relatable - although to be fair I don't remember having had similar problems, myself. (Except for the unrequited crushes, I do remember those. :D )
* I liked that there was never an answer for all the guilt. She feels guilty for setting her brother on fire - half accidentally, half not, she herself doesn't know - but there is no solution for it.
* Her father deals with his guilt in his own way, by setting himself an impossible task and doing penance for the rest of his life. I never quite managed to get how anone would do that. Yes, he ruined someone's life, yes he can never make up for that, and still. It just never clicked with me.
* Nothing much happens in this book. She gets to know the people who live around her father, falls in love with a neighbor boy but doesn't make anything of it, goes door to door with her father selling ugly canvas blinds (which is where the name of the book comes from). It's quite unremarkable, but she grows up a lot. That's the point.
* The parts about the father's (and mother's and stepdad's) East German past were quite good, but too short in my opinion, and it took a bit long for her to find out what exactly happened. They're probably the reason why the book is on the school curriculum.
* The insights into different people were quite poignant, but overall nothing really gripped me. Maybe it's because the author wrote the book for his daughter, i.e. it's basically a YA book, and I felt like there was nothing new for me in it.
3 stars - Not bad, just not my type of book.
1 - 5 stars - Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Final Architecture #1 [DW link]
2 - 2 stars - Miss Merkel: Mord auf dem Friedhof by David Safier Miss Merkel #2 [DW link]
3 - 4 stars - Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire Toby Daye #10 [DW link]
4 - 1 star - Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin [DW link]
5 - 5 stars - Murderbot Diaries 1-4 by Martha Wells [DW link]
6 - 4 stars - Die Neuerfindung der Diktatur/We Have Been Harmonized by Kai Strittmatter [DW link]
7 - tbd
8 - 3 stars - Der Markisenmann by Jan Weiler [DW link]
PSA on charity drive/auction fics on AO3
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:52 amkaioseaPSA: AO3 deletes fics with author's notes that have ANY mention of donations, bidding, or specific donation platforms. If you have ever done a charity event like Fandom Trumps Hate, check your fics. It's very strict, apparently.
I was alerted because I saw this tumblr post: https://letteredlettered.tumblr.com/post/803854003559710720/a-few-people-have-said-that-they-didnt-know-that
AO3 TOS on charity works: https://archiveofourown.org/tos_faq#charity_drives
You CAN say something was written for a specific event, but be careful about the wording and links. The TOS above has more details.
I was pretty surprised when I read the TOS because I could have sworn that this was not always the wording of the policy around charity drives. And it did change! Earlier versions as late as 2024 didn't mention all the things you couldn't and couldn't say. So the policy has become a lot more specific and strict since last year.
(I guess this is a note that when a website says they've updated the TOS, read the TOS. But honestly, who is going to do that...)
I was surprised when I checked my own fics that I actually did have to go back and edit an A/N that wasn't previously prohibited, at least not specifically. I had to remove the word 'bidding'.
Also the fact that some people spend their time reporting fics to AO3 instead of commenting and telling the author makes me sad, it literally takes less time to comment.
Anyway, I suggest checking your own works but also checking any gifts that you've received - if there is any language in the latter, please comment and let the author know.
For low effort, you can use or modify the text below. You don't need to mention or credit me, and feel free to repost it on your own blog too.
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that AO3's updated TOS bans any mentions of "donating, bidding, or any specific contribution amounts or donation platforms." I really like this fic and wouldn't want to see it deleted by AO3 because of the notes! Here is the FAQ for more: https://archiveofourown.org/tos_faq#charity_drives
I was alerted because I saw this tumblr post: https://letteredlettered.tumblr.com/post/803854003559710720/a-few-people-have-said-that-they-didnt-know-that
AO3 TOS on charity works: https://archiveofourown.org/tos_faq#charity_drives
You CAN say something was written for a specific event, but be careful about the wording and links. The TOS above has more details.
I was pretty surprised when I read the TOS because I could have sworn that this was not always the wording of the policy around charity drives. And it did change! Earlier versions as late as 2024 didn't mention all the things you couldn't and couldn't say. So the policy has become a lot more specific and strict since last year.
(I guess this is a note that when a website says they've updated the TOS, read the TOS. But honestly, who is going to do that...)
I was surprised when I checked my own fics that I actually did have to go back and edit an A/N that wasn't previously prohibited, at least not specifically. I had to remove the word 'bidding'.
Anyway, I suggest checking your own works but also checking any gifts that you've received - if there is any language in the latter, please comment and let the author know.
For low effort, you can use or modify the text below. You don't need to mention or credit me, and feel free to repost it on your own blog too.
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that AO3's updated TOS bans any mentions of "donating, bidding, or any specific contribution amounts or donation platforms." I really like this fic and wouldn't want to see it deleted by AO3 because of the notes! Here is the FAQ for more: https://archiveofourown.org/tos_faq#charity_drives
Culturally appropriate seasonal wishes or lack thereof, according to your chosen norms!
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:30 amjames_davis_nicoll
Culturally appropriate seasonal wishes or lack thereof, according to your chosen norms!
May your solstice experiences harmoniously conform to your preferences!
God jul!
Dec. 25th, 2025 03:27 pmscripsiMerry Christmas for those of you who celebrate: In Sweden Christmas Eve is the big day, but as I worked in the evening we didn’t do much. My parents came for lunch, and it was all very nice anyway. We don’t go in for lots of gifts, I gave my husband and son a sweater each, because that is what they both wanted. And my husband gave me a book. It was written in the 1950s and is an analysis of the bodies, jewelry and clothes worn by king Gustav Vasa, his three wives, his son Johan III and his second wife. They all lived in the 16th century, and the book is probably only of interest for a history and costume history nerd like me.
Working was thankfully slow, and as I work evening today as well, I hope to have another slow workday. I plan to check out Yuletida and see if there is any fanfic that interests me. I hope you all have a lovely day, regardless of how you spend it!
Working was thankfully slow, and as I work evening today as well, I hope to have another slow workday. I plan to check out Yuletida and see if there is any fanfic that interests me. I hope you all have a lovely day, regardless of how you spend it!
Interesting Links for 25-12-2025
Dec. 25th, 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
- (tags:headline funny journalism )
- 2. There's no such thing as a fake feather
- (tags:birds materials video )
- 3. Dutch Tesla Fleet Goes Bankrupt After Betting on Musk's Self-Driving Promises
- (tags:Tesla automation fraud ElonMusk )
- 4. Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi Games' Affordance of Childlike Wonder and Reduced Burnout Risk in Young Adults
- (tags:psychology mentalhealth games Mario )
- 5. Why Britain doesn't have enough dentists
- (tags:teeth UK bureaucracy OhForFucksSake )
Tags:
- automation,
- birds,
- bureaucracy,
- elonmusk,
- fraud,
- funny,
- games,
- headline,
- journalism,
- links,
- mario,
- materials,
- mentalhealth,
- ohforfuckssake,
- psychology,
- teeth,
- tesla,
- uk,
- video
Christmas Day
Dec. 25th, 2025 11:40 amheleninwalesWe actually had our "Christmas dinner" yesterday evening. We normally only eat a light lunch, so a big meal midday makes me feel uncomfortably full. We've therefore often eaten Christmas "lunch" in the evening. But this year I just felt like getting the big roast dinner out of the way so I could have a truly restful day today. In the past I've been juggling getting all the food ready for the meal whilst also answering phone calls from family. At least now most of the merry Christmas messages arrive on WhatsApp or Messenger so they're less time critical.
I believe that on the continent they celebrate on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, so I put it to G that we could do Christmas in a more European way and he agreed. He's never been a fan of traditional Christmases, but will never refuse a good meal. :-)
So today I have nothing much to do and it's the most relaxing Christmas day I've had since.... Probably since I left home. We'll just do whatever we fancy today and we'll see family when the days get a bit longer in the spring.
I hope everyone is having the kind of Christmas they enjoy, whether that's celebrating or just having a quiet day. If you have to work over Christmas, I hope that everything goes well without any crises.
In other news...
The Met Office yellow warning of high winds has proved highly inaccurate, at least where we are. Everything is perfectly still outside. Though having said that, the clouds are passing overhead much faster than normal, so we could just be in the shelter provide by the hills opposite. At least it should have removed the threat of power cuts on a day when so many people will be cooking bigger meals than usual.
I believe that on the continent they celebrate on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, so I put it to G that we could do Christmas in a more European way and he agreed. He's never been a fan of traditional Christmases, but will never refuse a good meal. :-)
So today I have nothing much to do and it's the most relaxing Christmas day I've had since.... Probably since I left home. We'll just do whatever we fancy today and we'll see family when the days get a bit longer in the spring.
I hope everyone is having the kind of Christmas they enjoy, whether that's celebrating or just having a quiet day. If you have to work over Christmas, I hope that everything goes well without any crises.
In other news...
The Met Office yellow warning of high winds has proved highly inaccurate, at least where we are. Everything is perfectly still outside. Though having said that, the clouds are passing overhead much faster than normal, so we could just be in the shelter provide by the hills opposite. At least it should have removed the threat of power cuts on a day when so many people will be cooking bigger meals than usual.
Manga rec: K-9: Public Security Bureau – Division 9 – Special Abilities Countermeasure
Dec. 25th, 2025 11:32 amvriddy posting in anime_mangaI've fallen in love with this manga and am continually surprised at how few people seem to have heard of it, so here's my humble attempt to spread the word :D (This is a cross-post from my journal, where I'm also delighted to discuss this fandom anytime :D :D)
It only took one promo picture to get me to check it out:
...I didn't really ask any more questions after that. Bonus impact for stumbling on it in Japanese because the "kept pet" implied in the verb is lovely, and obviously plays with the K-9/"police dog" title.
Anyway, meet Oboro on the left - he's great - and Ren on the right - she's great. The art is beautiful, and everyone is very pretty.
This seems pretty simplistic at first glance, but that slowly changes as we drill deeper into the worldbuilding and learn the nuances of these abilities and how they manifest. The implications are deeply fucked up, with often devastating consequences that I'm totally here for as my heart gets shattered again and again.
TOGETHER THEY FIGHT CRIME! More specifically, crime related to sin users. But they also get their asses kicked and handed over to them quite a bit, haha.
( A bit more on the story and on them )
It only took one promo picture to get me to check it out:
...I didn't really ask any more questions after that. Bonus impact for stumbling on it in Japanese because the "kept pet" implied in the verb is lovely, and obviously plays with the K-9/"police dog" title.
Anyway, meet Oboro on the left - he's great - and Ren on the right - she's great. The art is beautiful, and everyone is very pretty.
About the world
Some people have special abilities, most of which are not well understood. Only one thing is known for sure: these abilities manifest after someone commits a crime. For example, the criminal from the first chapter is an arsonist and can control/become fire. (Somewhat unrelated, but this is pretty fun coming in from the Boku No Hero Academia world, because it's like a universe in which only bad guys get a quirk.) Here, these abilities are called "sins." In the Japanese, it's simply the kanji for crime with "sin" written in katakana beside it.This seems pretty simplistic at first glance, but that slowly changes as we drill deeper into the worldbuilding and learn the nuances of these abilities and how they manifest. The implications are deeply fucked up, with often devastating consequences that I'm totally here for as my heart gets shattered again and again.
The story premise
Our plucky detective Ren is selected to join Division 9, a newly created division that pairs a detective with a sin user in order to fight fire with fire -- what could possibly go wrong?! I love her. She kicks so much ass.
So, who's our main cast?
( Short character profiles )
TOGETHER THEY FIGHT CRIME! More specifically, crime related to sin users. But they also get their asses kicked and handed over to them quite a bit, haha.
( A bit more on the story and on them )
Where to read? How many chapters are out?
( 37 chapters, 3 volumes. Totally possible to catch up in a reasonable amount of time! )Bonus scythe, for fellow appreciators of the Rule of Cool
Role Reversal Challenge: The Fantastic Journey: Fanfic: Healing The Healer
Dec. 25th, 2025 11:11 ambadly_knitted posting in fan_flashworksTitle: Healing The Healer
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Jonathan Willaway, Varian.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the series.
Summary: Jonathan is a scientist, Varian is the healer, but right now Varian is in no condition to tend his own injuries, so Jonathan will have to do it for him.
Word Count: 400
Content Notes: Nada.
Written For: Challenge 501: Amnesty 83, using Challenge 16: Role Reversal.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Quadruple drabble.
MGS: Rat in a Foxhole by thelonebamf
Dec. 25th, 2025 09:23 pm22degreehalo posting in fancakeFandom: Metal Gear Solid
Pairings/Characters: Snake/Otacon
Rating: G
Length: 13,779 (1:33:04)
Creator Links:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
thelonebamf
Theme: Amnesty, Ambiguous Relationships, Angst (With A Happy Ending), Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Trauma & Recovery, Pre-Canon
Summary: Snake returns from Operation N313, lauded a hero and finds the latest shipment of Foxhound recruits already at the camp. Still struggling to sort out his thoughts about the mission, he finds his attention drawn to one rookie in particular, a scrawny, unassuming runt who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
Reccer's Notes: This just works so damn well as an alternate first meeting for these two! It's such a dismal, pessimistic setting - as expected with this canon - but the way these two forge a connection, finding some degree of comfort and caring and hope - makes me really emotional! And I love the use of the book, as well!(Also somehow even though I always knew the Hal connection to 2001: A Space Odyssey I never noticed how Dave fits in to it, too?! 🤦)
Fanwork Links: Rat in a Foxhole [podfic], Rat in a Foxhole
Pairings/Characters: Snake/Otacon
Rating: G
Length: 13,779 (1:33:04)
Creator Links:
Theme: Amnesty, Ambiguous Relationships, Angst (With A Happy Ending), Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Trauma & Recovery, Pre-Canon
Summary: Snake returns from Operation N313, lauded a hero and finds the latest shipment of Foxhound recruits already at the camp. Still struggling to sort out his thoughts about the mission, he finds his attention drawn to one rookie in particular, a scrawny, unassuming runt who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
Reccer's Notes: This just works so damn well as an alternate first meeting for these two! It's such a dismal, pessimistic setting - as expected with this canon - but the way these two forge a connection, finding some degree of comfort and caring and hope - makes me really emotional! And I love the use of the book, as well!
Fanwork Links: Rat in a Foxhole [podfic], Rat in a Foxhole
25 December
Dec. 25th, 2025 10:44 amantisoppistUnexpected bonus Christmas extract from Son who doesn't really do fiction.
Wishing you all a happier time than being stuck in Antarctica, whether or not you celebrate Christmas.
After an hour's rest, they struggled on until noon. The tents were pitched and supper was issued: cold seal steak and tea - nothing more.
On the same night exactly one year before, after a festive dinner on board the Endurance, Greenstreet had written in his diary: 'Here endeth another Christmas Day. I wonder how and under what circumstances our next one will be spent.' That night he failed to even mention what day it was. And Shackleton recorded briefly all that really needed to be said: 'Curions Christmas. Thoughts of home.'
Wishing you all a happier time than being stuck in Antarctica, whether or not you celebrate Christmas.
FIC: Kamen Rider Gotchard, B-Robo Kabutack - Finders Keepers
Dec. 25th, 2025 10:13 amsonofgodzillaTitle: Finders Keepers
Universe: Kamen Rider Gotchard, B-Robo Kabutack
Prompt: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: S02E08 - I, Eye Guy
Character(s): Kugimiya Licht, Harima Shiroi, Captain Tonborg, OCs
Rating: U
Warnings: N/A
Summary: This, thought Kugimiya Licht, was less than ideal, a waste of his time even. Through the course of their investigation, they had uncovered the cache of aged Octi-Eye cards buried in the ground, there was nothing contest. Finders keepers, as the children he had watched outside the window of his villa on the Palatine Hill had oft been moved to call out.
Length: 1858 words
Author's Notes: WWTHYWC! #22. Merry, merry Christmas, friends 🎄🎉🎁💝🍰 also: external link.
( Finders Keepers )
Universe: Kamen Rider Gotchard, B-Robo Kabutack
Prompt: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: S02E08 - I, Eye Guy
Character(s): Kugimiya Licht, Harima Shiroi, Captain Tonborg, OCs
Rating: U
Warnings: N/A
Summary: This, thought Kugimiya Licht, was less than ideal, a waste of his time even. Through the course of their investigation, they had uncovered the cache of aged Octi-Eye cards buried in the ground, there was nothing contest. Finders keepers, as the children he had watched outside the window of his villa on the Palatine Hill had oft been moved to call out.
Length: 1858 words
Author's Notes: WWTHYWC! #22. Merry, merry Christmas, friends 🎄🎉🎁💝🍰 also: external link.
( Finders Keepers )
