yuletide recs 2020

I like to post my top-ten yuletide fics before the end of the anon period, and I'm on top of things this year! Of course the archive is large and I'm sure I've missed some worthwhile works, and I thoroughly enjoyed a great number of the fics I read, but here's a list of some fics I think particularly worth reading. Presented in the order I read them.


Publish and/or Perish
The Snake Fight Portion of your Thesis Defense, gen, OCs

This was my fave of the many truly excellent additions to this totally wild fandom. I loved how matter of fact the snake-fights are as a normal part of academia in this world, just another thing to worry about amongst all of the trials and tribulations of being a grad student!


Varader Tau Cosplay: A Saga
Vorkosigan Saga, gen, OC's

A delightful look at a hypothetical fandom for a hypothetical tv show within the vorkosigan universe!


Learn
Spinning Silver, het, Miryem/Staryk Lord, Rebekah bat Flek

Lovely! I really enjoyed the continued connection Miryem makes with Rebekah and the importance of the traditions she shares, and of course the relationship between Miryem and her Staryk lord.


A Dreaming Art
Piranesi, gen, OC & Angharad Scott

This was lovely and fascinating and just what I needed after reading Piranesi! A great job of exploring the eurocentrism of the House in Piranesi by introducing another perspective.


Excerpts From the Letters of Sarah McBride Anderson, 1904-1908
Daddy-Long-Legs, gen, Sallie McBride

This fic is absolutely incredible, I love Sallie's voice and getting to see her perspective on the things that happened in the book, and on the things that are important to Sallie, and on Judy herself as well! And also I love that Sallie thinks Jervis is a rat because yuppppppp.


Psmith Pops In
Psmith, slash, Mike/Psmith

What a delight! Such delicious pining, and beautifully Psmithian turns of phrases, and Mike's solid Mikeness to balance Psmith out, I loved it.


Anonymous
18th Century RPF, gen, Voltaire & OC's

Incredible, and so funny! A look at a hypothetical argument on the authorship of Voltaire à la the Shakespearean authorship debate.


the enemy of my enemy
Locked Tomb, femslash, Gideon/Harrow

I was blown away and delighted, this was absolutely enormous amounts of fun to read, A+++++. A modern university au where Gideon and Harrow have to work together on a theatre project!


The Education of a Magician
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, gen, OCs

A schoolteacher marking an essay about Faerie. So lovely! I love the way that the student's paper brings back to the main character the sense of the numinous.


Adverse Event
Nirvana In Fire, slash, Mei Changsu/Jingyan

I love the way this fic makes use of the truth serum tropes with Mei Changsu, his desperate need to not say certain truths at any cost, and what he's willing to say to avoid it!