Merlin fic recs wanted.

[starrylizard]

Okay, so far my foray into Merlin fic has been super unsuccessful.

So far I'm unable to get into any of the pairings and I think it's because usually I get pulled into fandoms based on awesome long gen (or gen that turns into a pairing/not just PWP) fics. In this case, that'd be something with an adventure and magic and baddies and you know... a plot.

So far all I've found is PWP and badly written... well I won't go into it, but some poorly written stuff. I must not be looking in the right places.

Any help? I don't mind if there's a pairing that is developed through the story because of their super awesome adventure. But come on, this is a series with magic and dragons and princes and knights... surely there must be some plotty fics out there. Right?

Help me fabulous flisties. Please.

I love the show and wanna get into it in a fandom way. I'd love to write it at some time in the future. But right now I'm BORED and I want fic I care to read.

*puppy-eyes you all*

Comments

[leavingslowly.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be watching this thread because I am having the same exact same issue! I've found some decent stuff on Merlin Finders but you really have to comb through it. This person seems to have a collection of decent semi-gen stories based on episodes:
http://www.delicious.com/frogspace/MerlinBBC+episodetag



.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Oh, so it isn't just me. It seems so weird. It's a fandom with so much fic potential in terms of plotty stuff... I mean you've got magic (which is so useful as an out if you plot yourself into a hole)!

Thanks for the link. Looks promising. :)

[leavingslowly.livejournal.com]

Found a good one about Arthur & Merlin on Arthur's birthday. Not particularly plotty, but well-written and the voices are spot-on:
http://maleyka.livejournal.com/227184.html

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There's quite a few recs now in the comments and I have been reminded to raid the paperlegends community too. Nice long fics there. Hopefully good ones. :)

[beef-wonder3.livejournal.com]

I've only recently gotten into Merlin fic too and I've read some really amazing stories.

Two of my favorites (of which there are many) are these two, which are Merlin/Arthur if you don't mind that pairing, their relationship develops along with the plots nicely;
The Tournament of All Magicks and The Crown of the Summer Court. The Magic and story and adventure in these are amazing and riveting.

I also stumbled across a Rec list of rec lists. Most look to be Merlin/Arthur as well but there's a few that list other/all pairings and gen.

Have fun!

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you muchly! :D
I can see where the Merlin/Arthur comes from of course, but I've yet to read anything that takes my fancy. I'll certainly try these.

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

Crown of the Summer Court is by astolat - she has several awesome M/A fics you'll want to check out at her site. I'd also recommend the Merlin fics of rageprufrock (I think she has a page on AO3 where all her stuff is stored - it's hard to find her fics from her LJ) and seperis. Rageprufrock wrote what the classic Merlin/Arthur modern AU, Drastically Redefining Protocol, and it's a must read.

I have several other recs if you click my Merlin tag, mostly Merlin/Arthur.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Much obliged. I'll check these out. :D

[omglawdork.livejournal.com]

In addition to those listed here already, you may want to check out astolat's stuff - particularly Onfindan, which is lovely and long and plotty.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

I recognise a lot of these authors from SGA fandom way back when. Shall do, with thanks!