There are a lot of threads covering variations on the theme of "best fics", even aside from the pairing-threads which often cover similar ground. What I haven't found (and I hope it's not lying around somewhere and I missed it) is a thread specifically about lists of recommendations, a sort of meta-best fics thread if you like.

Lists are nice to read, because if they're well-done you can glean from them not only, obviously, new stories to read, but also a sense of how other readers read, by seeing how they review and trying to understand what makes them tick. Ideally lists are rather long (twenty titles or more), justified (not just the FFN summary of the story in question) and readable.

I've noticed it's considered courteous when starting a thread to give examples of the object of the quest, so here are a few examples of what I mean:

-Taure's (here) and Newcomb's (here), which helped me out a lot when I was just embarking on FF.
-my own list
-this list, by someone called Tusing, and this one, by Seylliani, are interesting but less so because their commentaries are rather short

An example of thoroughly bad practice (or at least, not the practice I'm looking for) would be this.

 

It's called the library. Not sure how you missed it.

 

Maybe if you'd read my post. The point is not only to discover new fics, but mainly to see how other individual readers reflect on what they've read.

I have, at length, just as I've combed through the library; again though, the C2, great as it is, is not a thought-out and coherent list of favourites.

 

I got called out.

 

@Seylliani: Sorry about that, I edited my OP to include a link to your profile. I hadn't found it on my first posting, though I'd seen your name around on DLP. Your list is great, but some of your justifications for inclusion are a little economical (cf. the first on your list).

 

I have to agree with the OP. I like reading lists like these. Was thinking of expanding my own beyond the Top 10. I only ever checked out Long Journey Home because of Newcomb's recommendation. Cool thread, OP.

 

Yeah, it's hard sometimes to write a lot on some of the stories as it been a while. I will try to give a better analysis, or for some just simply give an analysis, though.

 

Astaphta your FFN profile link isn't working.

 

@Scott Press: Thanks for that, rectified and should work. It seems FFN has different URLs for internal and external links.

 

My personal recommendations:
https://pastebin.com/7ZKbjWDS

Stuff I auto generated based on these:
https://pastebin.com/gfxG7Ssv(fics in there are either complete or still updating)
--- Post automerged ---
And here is what Astaphta potentially wants to read if my generator is to be believed:
https://pastebin.com/5TTfEuv0

(admittedly the lists overlap quite a bit, I probably need to expand my selection of source profiles)

 

I'm kinda slightly guilty of stalking your FF.net profile and sifting through your favorites.

I'm just a casual stalker, pls don't mind me senpai.

 

Yes, I am kinda guilty of this too. I don't even remember some of the stuff on my FFN favourite list, which is a reason I didn't link it here. Because my actual favourites I store in another app

 

Do you yourself have an online favorite list? Would love to browse it. --

 

I actually just went through my favorite list on FF.net and cleared house. Only have the authors and stories I love saved and not some stuff that blends together and I mostly forget.

Your story is actually there, Cheddar!