Calufrax

Title: Dinner for Two
Author: uktechgirl
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 3668
Author's Summary: 'And this, Jamie, is an oyster.' ‘You’ll not fool me, Doctor. That’s a rock, and I’m not eating it.’ The Second Doctor introduces Jamie to French cuisine. Their waiter, Guillaume, may never be the same again.
Characters/Pairings: Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon
Warnings: None

Recced because: Fic for the Second Doctor's era is regrettably rare, so any and all gems like this one should be savoured! The author makes a fine French restaurant seem as bizarre and unfathomable to our heroes as any alien planet - hilarity results, of course, but there's a really lovely thread of characterisation running throughout the story. uktechgirl writes both characters flawlessly, and the result is an extremely entertaining read!

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Title: Red Tape
Author: Lydia Hunter
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 330
Author's Summary: Ever wondered about the red tape and paperwork hassle involved when the Doctor became an official part of UNIT?
Characters/Pairings: Third Doctor, Benton
Warnings: None

Recced because: Having the Third Doctor exiled to Earth raises all sorts of logistical problems, and this fic brings out the absurdity that comes hand-in-hand with trying to tie the Doctor to any sort of bureaucratic organisation. And, of course, Benton shines in this fic, which is always a plus! A great little glimpse at the humourous side of this era.

Story: Ozymandias in Hell
Author: ponygirl
Rating: None given (Teen seems a safe bet)
Author's Summary: Written for the "Old Clichés Made New" fic challenge on Livejournal. Martha learns about a side of the Doctor she hasn't seen before. Well, make that nine sides, actually.
Characters/Pairings: Martha Jones, First Doctor, Second Doctor, Third Doctor, Fourth Doctor, Fifth Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Seventh Doctor, Eighth Doctor, Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor
Warnings: None
Word Count: 7,881

Recced because: Ponygirl has an amazing gift for storytelling, and the tense but careful pacing of a longer story showcases this brilliantly. Her characterisation of each of the Doctors is flawless, but it's her interpretation of Martha that steals the show - even the most contradictory facets of her character come together for her terrifying and wonderful exploration of the Doctor's mind, of the Time War, and of everything that came after. While this may seem like a been-there-done-that scenario, the author admirably accomplishes the "Made New" part of the challenge, and the fic as a whole feels beautifully mysterious and different and unknown, and, more than that, it feels real and true to each character.

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