Star Wars/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Fan Fics set in the galaxy far, far away, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Many of these fics involve not only the film series, but also the extensive Star Wars Expanded Universe. A related page is Knights of the Old Republic.

Add new examples at the bottom of the section, please.

Authors and Websites
Ash Darklighter
 * Recommended by Falcon Arrow
 * If it's written by Ash Darklighter and it's Star Wars, it goes here. Seriously. Out of the Shadows is this troper's first recommendation, as it requires almost no Expanded Universe knowledge to get started and the only AU element is that Yoda didn't die. (The opening scene is immediately after a novel set right after Return of the Jedi, but isn't consequential and is eventually explained later.) After deciding that he's only half-trained and that the Jedi will need him full time in order to return, Luke disappears from the Galaxy... three years later, Force sensitives are beginning to emerge from the shadows, but what's become of the last Jedi Knight? The other Ash Darklighter recommendations are The Emerald Price (note that chapters 31 onward in this entry) and Spirit of the Shifting Sands. The former recommendation is for when it's revealed just how far Luke will go for someone he cares about... and the latter for a rather nasty revelation about what part of the New Republic hierarchy thinks of Luke Skywalker's desire to truly fight for peace and justice instead of being a "tame Jedi" at their beck and call, a common theme in Darklighter's work....

The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster ""Dear House of Ozzel,
 * Recommended by User:Jonn, Yogi.
 * Synopsis: Darth Vader's diary from the start of New Hope to the end of Jedi.
 * Comments: Warning, severe Mood Whiplash. One minute Vader is crushing someone's trachea with the Force, the next he's using that same Force to squeeze Tarkin's balls. No, not that way. Just to make him uncomfortable. You might even end up liking Darth Vader. And maybe even Padme. I'm not joking. The comments on the actual blog are also worth a look.

I regret to inform you that your son has been killed in the line of duty.

He was an incompetent, yammering boob and he will be missed by none.""

Yoda Kenobi's Fanfiction (link) NJO AU: Revolution, The Eighth Cortex, The Living Force Post-NJO: Empire of the Hand Legacy of the Sith: The Age of Heroes, Exodus, The Lands of the Dead, The End of All Light
 * Recommended by: MasterGhandalf
 * Links to the main storyline:
 * All of YodaKenobi's stuff is great, but his main storyline starts with a trilogy that serves as an alternate ending for the New Jedi Order in which Anakin Solo is revealed to be alive, and continues with the bridge epic "Empire of the Hand" and the currently ongoing "Legacy of the Sith" four-fic arc. In this series, the Galactic Alliance is threatened by a new race of alien invaders several years after the Vong War ends, only to be rescued by the forces of a mysterious empire from the Unknown Regions. But nothing is as it seems, and a new Sith Lord plans to somehow use the descendants of Anakin Skywalker to change the very nature of the Force itself. The above summary only gives you a rough idea -- this series embodies the best of Star Wars, with action, humor, mysterious revelations, Force philosophy, and an awesome Big Bad Magnificent Bastard in the form of Darth Malig. I really can't recommend this enough -- if you're dissatisfied with the current EU and are in desperate need of some quality Star Wars, look no further than YodaKenobi.

The Son of Suns trilogy by blank101, which includes Into the Storm, In Shadows and Darkness, At the Brink of the Dawn and the Darkness
 * Recommended by Gelious
 * Synopsis: This is an AU trilogy which starts in the end of "The Empire Strikes Back": it begins when "Millenium Falcon" trying to escape from Bespin (with injured Luke on-board) was caught by Vader's Star Destroyer and it's passengers (including Han whom was taken from Jabba by Empire) were taken to Coruscant where Emperor tried to convert Luke to the Dark Side. And that's only the first book... so forget about synopsis and just read the trilogy.
 * Comments: It is also a bit EU story because here you will find Mara Jade a.k.a Emperor's Hand and Talon Karrde and few completely new characters. I have just finished reading the whole thing and found it epic and amazing. Also be warned - all together there are 18+35+48= 101 chapters, most of them are pretty long.
 * Seconded by Herodity. The Trilogy is well written with strong characterization and fleshed out ocs. blank101 does a fantastic job building this AU and has also written several one-shots. The author's homepage is here
 * Thirded by User:USA Bobcat. This story is vast, mindblowing, and straight up awesome. It is similar to Shinji and Warhammer 40 K in that the author includes some shout outs, such as Han Solo


 * The Vast Empire
 * Recommended by Ugolino
 * Synopsis: A forum focused on fiction about the Empire. More specifically, writers compose "posts" that make up group stories about stormtroopers, fighter pilots,and smugglers affiliated with an Imperial Remnant group called the "Vast Empire". The setting's currently in the last days of the Thrawn era, with the Vast Empire plotting to retake Coruscant. Some of the longer stories can be quite good, especially the "HSC" group stories. Stories are here, and there's a chat and in-universe newspaper.

Kelaria (previously known as Wawoot)
 * Recommended by User:Progeny Ex Machina
 * Kelaria's fics masterfully blend humor and drama while seamlessly working in the most ridiculous concepts -- in Another Vader Redemption Fic, Anakin fulfills the prophecy by passing the Sith Master position to Jabba the Hutt, and not only does it make perfect sense in context, but it's a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming as well. My personal favorite of hers is Tales from the Trash Compactor, a non-AU alternative interpretation of the original trilogy that and is essentially Fridge Brilliance incarnate. You may also recognize her former username from one of the recs listed below, Bad Boys: JEDI Style.

From the Top Shelf, a community on FFN.
 * Recommended by Much Ado About Nonny
 * This is a collection of the best fanfics of the Star Wars the Clone Wars section. No, that's not exaggeration; the gal who runs this site is one of the best writers in the fandom, and she knows what she's looking for when it comes to good fanfiction. This community is great, because it's basically one-stop shopping. You'll find quite a diverse sampling of everything the TCW fandom has to offer (not including instances of the Anakin/Ahsoka pairing, though this is probably subject to change), so there's something for almost everybody.

General Fics
''Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.''

Before Original Movies
Empty by Darth Ishtar
 * Recc'd by: Joysweeper and RK Striker JK 5
 * Synopsis: Inspired by the ending scenes of ROTS, this is the story of why Bail and his Queen "always talked about adopting a baby girl."
 * Comments: It's so sad and sweet. Never really answers the Fridge Logic of why, in a galaxy where there are several different ways to make a clone, they can't get around infertility, but if you suspend disbelief it's just a little bit heartbreaking.

Smile Once More by Quiller
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: A year after ROTS, a chance meeting forces Obi-Wan to come to terms with a moment he'd rather forget.
 * Comments: I like this one. The whole thing about how long ago his last genuine smile was, Obi-Wan's attempts to stay aloof from Beru and Luke, the idea that Obi-Wan not simply killing Anakin on Mustafar was in itself a grief-fueled slippage to the Dark Side...

The Anakin and Palpatine Letters by Arwen MUC
 * Recommened by: LL
 * Synopsis: You guessed it, Exactly What It Says On the Tin. Epistolary recounting of the events of the prequels, from the end of The Phantom Menace through the beginning of Revenge of the Sith.
 * Comments: Each chapter is a separate letter, on the order of Anakin writing one and Palpatine's response. Some of the details are fudged (Anakin mentioning that Obi-Wan gave him some time off to go free his mother, in what would have been about four years before Attack of the Clones, but it works nonetheless. The author does a superb job of capturing Anakin's essential naivete (and essential anger) immediately following the Battle of Naboo, as well as Palpatine's essential creepiness; he has all the false-bravado of a politician (not to mention the whole Sith Lord thing). It so borders on the verge of Ho Yay/statutory weirdness, and this author bets you one US dollar that your flesh won't crawl after reading at least three of Palpatine's letters. Yet, sort of like a movie about the Hindenburg we know it doesn't end well, but damn is it fun seeing another spin on the subject.

Phantom Menace: The Unauthorized Rewrite by Veriform.
 * Recommended by: Sepirahkt
 * Synopsis: A recent take on the Phantom Menace according to the writer's disdain for midichlorians, Jar-Jar Binks, 14-year-old elected Queens and a universe in which Palpatine succeeds in his endeavors by virtue of being a moderately intelligent man surrounded by idiots. Senator Padme and Queen Amidala are separate characters, Anakin is a bit older and Dooku and Grievous get to share the limelight with the film's heroes. Complete.
 * Comments: Anyone wanting to get a look at a better thought-out version of events presented in the prequels should really check this one out. It starts out adhering fairly closely to the script, and then all hell gradually breaks loose. The plotline concerning Qymaen jai Shaleel's transformation into General Grievous is a particularly enjoyable addition, and Darth Maul's brief perspective chapters are chillingly deranged.

Attack of the Clones the Unauthorized Rewrite by Veriform
 * Recommended by: Sepirahkt
 * Synopsis: The sequel to Veriform's first Unauthorized Rewrite, and things get considerably darker. The galaxy is embroiled in a bitter, no-holds-barred military conflict as Anakin, hero of prophecy, is drawn deeper into a web of deception and danger. Aot C deviates far more significantly from its source material than PM, and also wisely incorporates some elements of Tartakovsky's Clone Wars miniseries. A worthy successor to the first installment. Complete.

To Turn To the Dark Side, Press Three by frodogenic
 * Rec'd by Fuzzy Boots.
 * Synopsis: You thought that Anakin's turn to the dark side was implausible? A much better explanation is crafted here in Anakin's battle with medical insurance over his prosthetic hand.

The House of Bacaard by Jedi Trace
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper.
 * Synopsis: Mara Jade, Emperor's Hand, is on an undercover mission to neutralize a traitor to the Empire and makes an unexpected friend.
 * Comments: I always enjoy Mara-the-Hand stories. This was on the short side, but I enjoyed reading it. I liked the Vader cameo, too.

Dragonslayer, by Fern Withy
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Luke Skywalker comes face to face with a krayt dragon.
 * Comments: This was written before Revenge of the Sith and does go with the general assumption that Padme didn't die immediately after giving birth. But it does stay vague about that. Krayt dragons here seem significantly less formidable than in other interpretations. In this fic, Luke has a sheer messianic level of compassion that's rather sweet.

Inheritence and ''Boundary, by Lisse
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Leia is nothing like her mother, no one at all whispers. Owen and names.
 * Comments: In all honesty, I really love when people pick up on the ways Leia takes after her father, and how Luke takes after his mother. Or grandmother, in this case. Both are pretty short.

,

A Quiet Conscience Sleeps in Thunder
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Synopsis: two brief scenes, one between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and the second between Obi-Wan and Anakin and their reactions to a thunderstorm.
 * Comments: I felt as if I was punched in the gut. It's amazing how big of a role those little scenes play.

It Will Be Done, My Lord by Qoheleth
 * Recommended by User:Lady Of Procrastination
 * Synopsis: A poem giving a clone's-eye view of Order 66.
 * Comments: Very short, very good. Perfect from a technical and stylistic point of view, and truly excellent, content-wise. It gave me chills.

Shadows of the Future by Storm Queen
 * Recommended by User:Fax Modem 1
 * Synopsis: Obi Wan Kenobi, after being killed by Anakin on Mustafar, is leapt from his body into his body as a padawan during The Phantom Menace.
 * Comments:A nice fic in which we see how Anakin would have turned out if Obi Wan Kenobi was more of a parent and brother to him, while at the same time exploring the canon relationship between the two.

Original Movies timeline
A New Sith or Revenge of the Hope by Keith Martin
 * Recommended by SAMAS, Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: More of an essay than anything else, this re-writes the story of Episode 4, in light of the information shown in Episode 6, while not changing a single scene or line of dialogue. All the changes are in background or the thoughts of characters.
 * Comments: And it makes perfect sense.
 * It does make sense, and without totally throwing out the Expanded Universe! I was surprised by that. And it is a speculative essay, not a story. Canon holds that Leia had to lead everyone out of the grand hall and stand on a table to give Chewbacca his medal, but really, couldn't he have leaned down? Unfortunately this doesn't explain why Wedge wasn't up there too.

Innocence by Kenya Starflight (AU)
 * Recommended by Twigy13, Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: An AU story where, instead of safely flying off in his TIE fighter after the destruction of the Death Star, Darth Vader crashes not far from rebel base. The catch? He has total amnesia.
 * Comments: This is definitely one of the best fanfictions I've ever read.
 * I wouldn't go that far, but ... it was interesting. I do think just about everyone came to trust Vader too quickly, even if he was totally amnesiac - even the ones who started off suspicious changed their minds abruptly when the time came. There was no reason whatsoever for the traitor to use a scarf with the Imperial insignia. There was no reason for the traitor to be revealed to be an admiral; a mere agent would have been plenty. Finding an N-1 starfighter just as two characters were talking about how incredibly rare those were was gratuitous. Boba Fett as the Emperor's replacement apprentice struck me as rather stupid. This was written before Episode Three, so it's reasonable that Vader's not quite as cybernetic, but the reasoning for why they couldn't change his faceplate was flawed. ...Still, still, it's not bad at all. I really liked the medic, and Luke was good.

The Sith Who brought Life Day by ophelia
 * Recommended by Lalalei 2001, Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Shortly after Yavin, an officer loses a bet and has to give Lord Vader a Life Day present. Starts as humor. Becomes serious.
 * Comments: Joysweeper-At this point in canon, the Empire desperately wants to know who this "Luke" is who destroyed the Death Star. Our bet-losing officer stumbles upon a lead and follows it, finding Luke's terribly unprofessional recorded request for admissions and matching it to the one confirmed voiceprint they had of him. The story of how Lord Vader learned exactly who destroyed the Death Star has been told several times in canon, but they're all minor stories that tend to contradict each other. The officer constantly calls the capital world Coruscant when at this point in time Imperials should be calling it Imperial Center, but that's a minor thing. You can really feel the officer's stark terror as he presents his findings. Knowing what we know about Anakin, it's easy to see why he was as interested in the recorded request as he was - Luke babbles about his ability to fly just about anything, talks about flying through Tatooine landmarks, and longs to be a pilot.
 * Lalalei2001-Maybe I'm biased cause I submitted the story idea to the plot bunny thread, but I had NO idea how well-written this fic would turn out to be. The main character is likable and yet steadfastly Imperial, and even as you groan at his acceptance of the Emperor's policies, you feel pity for his situation and want him to be safe. Vader is in-character too, his presence looming over the story though he only shows up at the end. And bonus points for Luke's hilarious application to the Imperial Academy.

The Father by frodogenic
 * Recommended by Sukiyaki 399
 * Synopsis: Ten years after ROTS, tormenting nightmares of his unborn child drive Darth Vader to extraordinary measures with unexpectedly drastic consequences. Clearly, experience has taught Darth Vader nothing... AU.
 * Comments: One of the best epic-length AU fanfiction that I have read on Star Wars. The characters remain endearingly true to the source material, changes can be explained away due to the point in the timeline. Complete at 64 chapters.

We Happy Few by frodogenic ""I can run you through the battle books, tell you the old stories. Shavit," he whispered, eyes on the empty spaces, "we had such good stories…""
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper, User:USA Bobcat.
 * Synopsis: It isn't all medals and glory after the Battle of Yavin for the two survivors of Red Squadron. Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles get to know each other a bit better.
 * Comments: I love interaction between Wedge and Luke, and this just feels so sad and sweet.

Between Flight and Longing by Sheila Snow
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Synopsis: Lord Vader, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker find themselves on an impromptu camping trip after crashing landing together, much to their own displeasure. Vader and Han take every opportunity to dig at each other, while Luke is dying of a mysterious disease.
 * Comments: The best part of this is the humor, especially as Han and Vader play off each other. And the ending is absolutely perfect.

''The Hero With No Fear by Roxie Flash
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: They finally begin to remember. Gen fic, Luke/Anakin comparison.
 * Comments: It's clearly inspired by those occasional tiny chapters in the Revenge of the Sith novelization which step back and say This is what it's like to be Anakin Skywalker, right now. I liked it.

Ignite the Stars by Jedi Trace and rhonderoo
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: An introspective piece interpreting the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in the Original Trilogy, in light of Revenge of the Sith.
 * Comments: The best exploration of how Luke came to believe that there is still good in his father that I've ever seen. Involves a little of Shadows of the Empire. The fic name comes from a line in the RoTS novelization - "The dark is generous, and it is patient and it always wins; but in the heart of its strength lies weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back. Love is more than a candle. Love can ignite the stars." I do think it falters a little at the end, but I enjoyed it all the same.

By the Grace of Lady Vader and sequel The Ascension of the Queen by Fernwithy, Ami-padme and Aeryn
 * Rec'd by Kateydidnt
 * Synopsis: Amidala survived! But that might not actually be a good thing... Phenomenal story. I rarely cry reading fanfic, but the final bits of The Ascension of the Queen where  had me bawling.

Please Pass The Salt, by Jedi-2B
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Luke discovers he can learn valuable truths on Dagobah even when Master Yoda is not riding on his back.
 * Comments: Young Luke is well meaning but impulsive and highly inept. Older Luke is also well meaning, but calmer and more melancholy. This is one of the first fics I've seen to feature him somewhere between the two, and I liked it.

Crack Shots by yonwords ""Right. So I'm being forced by you to drink my weight in whiskey in order to prove wrong a perception of me that you yourself created."
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: On Hoth, Wes sees that Wedge always holds himself aloof and doesn't really make friends. His solution? Try and get Wedge drunk. Better Than It Sounds, I swear.
 * Comments: A first-person-perspective where the ever-impulsive Wes tries a very simple prank, hoping to make Wedge lose his dignity and learn that he didn't really believe in his entirely-detached perspective. This backfires catastrophically on one front and succeeds on the other. It's quite true to Aaron Allston's style and characterization of these two pilots. And it features one of my favorite SpoofAesops of all time, and this exchange.

I thought about that for a moment. "Yes."

Wedge closed his eyes and sighed, then swallowed the contents of his glass in one go."

The Shadow by Neko-Kanojo
 * Recc'd by Candelabra
 * Synopsis: Luke meets Vader on the Death Star. As he slowly falls within the grip of the dark side he realizes what he must do, but success will depend on how much he is willing to sacrifice for his father, and how far he is willing to go to achieve his dreams.
 * Comments: The summary is a little misleading - the fic is basically canon until the end of Empire Strikes Back, except that Luke and Vader meet on the Death Star and are made aware of their relation to one another. But that brief meeting changes a lot of things. Luke's descent into darkness and his relationship with Vader are both fairly well handled.

In the Empire's Shadow by Lieutenant Dan
 * Recc'd by Candelabra
 * Synopsis: Post ESB: Vader searches the galaxy for answers about his family. Luke leads the Rogues and tries to avoid his questions. Lando pursues the frozen Han, but Boba Fett viciously protects his bounty. And Mara Jade is hunting Skywalker.
 * Comments: A nice inter-movie fanfic that could almost believably fit into canon, taking the place of the Expanded Universe novel "Shadows of the Empire".

Expanded Universe
Sidereal and Tyranny Reborn by Rigil Kent (AU)
 * Recommended by Falcon Arrow
 * Synopsis: Sidereal and Tyranny Reborn (continuing where Sidereal left off). TAU after the Thrawn trilogy, where Leia's focus on the New Republic is amped up (compared to Darklighter's version), leading to some... interesting consequences, while Han returns to battle leading a fleet instead of the Falcon, and Luke and Mara Jade.
 * Comments: Finally, a non-Ash Darklighter recommendation...This troper found to be awesome, and the scene where  to be one of the most awesome in all fanfic.

Love Ignites the Galaxy: Star by Star by polgarawolf
 * Recommended by Tricky Pacifist
 * Synopsis: After the events of Legacy of the Force, Tahiri uses Darth Caedus' flow-walking technique to go back in time to save the Myrkr strike team from the disaster recounted in New Jedi Order: Star by Star.
 * Comments: Basically, a "What if" of Star by Star where the future Tahiri saves the Myrkr team (with the exception of Ulaha Kore and the YVH droids) from getting killed or kidnapped. The story comprises both new material and scenes from the original book with very slight modifications. First installment of an ongoing series, but with the author's other commitments taking priority, we're not likely to see the next one for quite a while. The story more than stands up on its own, though. Polgarawolf's sentences are incredibly long and prone to go off on multiple tangents, but her characterization is stellar, her description beautiful and her plotting fantastic. Much Better Than Canon. The story's rated Mature for an explicit Tahiri/Jacen scene in the "Prologue," but beyond the story is PG-13 at worst.

Lord Vader's Limpet by frodogenic1
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper, Much Ado About Nonny, User:USA Bobcat
 * Synopsis: EU; Darth Vader for whatever reason was lost in the Unknown Regions for twenty-five years, in which time he had only one ship and was forced to learn a lot of restraint and become somewhat less evil. He came back to find the Empire a tiny vestige that has made peace with the Rebellion, now the New Republic - and his kids had kids.
 * Comments: It's a humor/fluff piece. The "limpet" in question is Ben Skywalker, who is two years old and adores his grandfather beyond question. Vader is very, very serious and very, very frustrated and actually very in-character with the addition of a lot of restraint(EU novels with his perspective make him dignified, somewhat aloof, prideful, liable to take everything personally, and possessing a sense of dry if dark humor. Nailed it.) I kept wanting to pick something to quote, and could not choose. It's hard to make me laugh, but this fic managed. ...I actually want to make an account there to babble at the writer. Gah!
 * Fans of this story rejoice: there's now a sequel, Driving Lord Vader. Darth Vader is roped into taking his grandson Anakin to get his pilot's license. Hilarity Ensues.

Whole by Mouse
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper.
 * Synopsis: At Luke and Mara's wedding, Talon Karrde reflects on the nature of his relationship with the bride. Fluffy vignette.
 * Comments: Sweet little story. Karrde sees Mara Jade Skywalker and thinks back on their decade-long working relationship. He loved her, in an entirely platonic way, and while he's happy to see her happiness and has nothing but goodwill for her and Luke, she'd become a part of him, and it hurts to let her go. Mara's perceptive. It's not goodbye. Never goodbye.

A Symbol, Perhaps by obaona
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Luke and Ben Skywalker have a talk about his grandfather and destiny.
 * Comments: I love Luke and Ben and that bond they develop, frankly. This was written long before the scene in Outcast, in which Luke makes his son promise to kill him if he falls to the Dark Side and can't be stopped any other way, but it has a similar feel.

A Melancholy Happiness by Jedi-2B
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: The Force directs Luke to a bittersweet discovery.
 * Comments: It seems rare to have a fic which features Artoo-Detoo as a side character and actually makes him seem like a character and not a rolling prop. This is one of them. Luke ends up at Polis Massa and sees a recording of the birth of he and his sister. I like that Bail Organa actually gets a favorable mention. Recently Troy Denning has made a habit about showing Luke and Leia details about their parents, but this predates that.

The Emperor's Artwork by Mouse ""You're a decoration, in other words?" At my abashed nod, he lifted one eyebrow. "Yet you say you're not important. Were we not just discussing the significance of art?""
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper.
 * Synopsis: A short tale set during the rise of the Emperor. A woman's brief encounter with an enigmatic warlord ultimately destroys her.
 * Comments: It's incredibly difficult to find good, in-character Thrawn fic which really captures how Zahn portrayed him. There's a community on Fanfiction.net called "Artistically Done" which claims to be composed of such stories, but seriously, it's not. This, however, gets a touch of the side of Thrawn that's usually ignored in favor of leatherpantsing. He's enigmatic and ruthless and uses people, and is just a little scary, but fascinating.
 * The viewpoint character parrots her father on how art reflects on the artist and the customer, then has to confess that she's only in the Imperial palace to look pretty.

X-Wing: Dissolution by Astronut
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper.
 * Synopsis: Set directly after Mandatory Retirement, this is a several-chaptered fic that tries to fix the No Ending problem and bridge the year-and-a-half period between the comics and the books.
 * Comments: It's not terrible. I know that's very faint praise, but this isn't good enough to make me gush. Some of the characters seem forced, there are minor grammatical errors, like "quiet" for "quite" and a misspelling of Pellaeon, and things seem to be a bit too convenient and fast moving. The ambitious parts are all in the beginning; it loses something as it goes on. Plus, Hobbie was already a lieutenant and Wedge a Commander by that point, and Plourr was alive at least as of I, Jedi. But even if I don't find it brilliant, it's certainly solid and has pretty good canon knowledge, an interesting first half, and nice details like the hot temper Tycho had in the comics and Thrawn telling Isard that they have a "common failing" in that they aren't human males and the Empire won't rally around either of them.

Get Me To The Job On Time by otahyoni
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Ton Phanan and Face Loran have been loaned out to the Rogues for a mission, but they're running a little late...
 * Comments: This story really doesn't go anywhere, but it's still fun. In the X Wing Series proper the cast of the Rogue books never interacts enough with the cast of the Wraith books; here Mirax and her father meet Face and Phanan. Booster and Phanan bond over having a mechanical eye each. I like the little things, like Face's pirate-voice, Phanan's cybernetics angst, and mention of Phanan closing his eye.

This Wasn't In The Brochure, also by otahyoni This period, just after Hand of Thrawn, is criminally unexplored in canon. I'm so glad to find at least one good fic set then, with the plausible villains being terrorists who oppose the New Republic/Imperial Remnant truce. And something that uses Karoly! And finally gives Hobbie a love interest! It's good. This and the previous were found on this rec page.
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Hobbie Klivian and Wes Janson are on vacation. The bad guys aren't. Set one year after the Hand of Thrawn duology.
 * Comments: Here's a story that goes somewhere. Hobbie and Wes are two weeks from retirement and they're at a loss - they've been with the military for their entire adult lives. Surprisingly for a story with Wes as a main character, it's serious despite humor.

Rude Awakening (scroll about halfway down), by stoneheart
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Part of a thread full of vignettes without dialogue, Luke and Wedge prank Wes.
 * Comments: There are so many fics where Wes pwns all with his pranks. People seem to forget that his victims can and do get back at him. And, okay, it's the first halfway decent fic I've seen where Wedge and Luke actually interact, so of course I want to be able to find it again.

A Heart Full of Stars by Corellia's Dream
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: What if Wedge can no longer fly? Set not long before The Thrawn Trilogy
 * Comments: Wedge Antilles comes down with a neurological disease, and recovery is slow and frustrating. I found bedridden, scared-and-bitter Wedge much more fascinating than I would have thought. This fic explores the mindset Wedge has when he's helpless. He gets better.

Presque Vu, by deaka "He was perhaps the only person in the galaxy who could mourn both the Jedi, collectively and individually, along with the man who had betrayed them."
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Presque vu: [F., nearly seen] a feeling that you are on the edge of grasping something very, very important. Luke, Vader's legacy, and what remains of the Jedi Order.
 * Comments: It's introspective and has a melancholy feel to it that I find very appealing - sad, but not overwhelmingly so.

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The Grey Space, by deaka
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Luke has doubts in the wake of Byss. Luke and Han friendship vignette.
 * Comments: Again with the melancholy. Plus, it's a fic about the aftermath of Dark Empire, and I have a soft spot for those. Dark Empire was a thousand fascinating missed opportunities, and Luke grappling with himself about his fall is one of them.

=

Sick, by deaka ""You know, you're good at this." Mara lifted her hand and opened it, indicating Skywalker, red-eyed under the covers of the bed. "You get yourself severely injured on a regular basis. How anyone can be stupid enough to walk into half the trouble you do… Concussed so many times I'd be surprised if you don't have a permanent dent in your head, not to mention the gangrenous leg from a few years back, and those weird parasite things, and now a virus? Which I've heard was a little more serious than you're claiming, by the way, so don't think I'm fooled by the nothing, I'm fine routine.""
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Mara pays a visit to Yavin IV. Nonangst.
 * Comments: Heh. Really, this line sold me on the fic.

Other
Walk Like Men by Kenya Starflight
 * Recommended by ctebbel09
 * Summary: "On his way to the Lars homestead, Obiwan is ambushed and loses baby Luke. Luke is discovered and raised to adulthood... by Sandpeople."
 * Synopsis: Remember the race on Tatooine known as the Tusken Raiders - aka the Sandpeople? (If not, go here) Well, in this "What if?" scenario, Luke Skywalker, instead of being raised by his aunt and uncle, was taken in by the Tuskens. Also, a very creative and in-depth (though not canon) look at the Tusken culture. Despite the major plot twist, stays surprisingly true to the movies.
 * Notes: To avoid some slight confusion, I thought I'd explain that the Tuskens bear two names in their lifetimes- one given to them by their parents, and one they give themselves at their Adulthood Ceremony. The childhood names are always one word, while the adult names contain two words. For example, before her Ceremony, the character Wind-Dancer was called "Cubling". As for which name Luke was given... I'll let you figure that out for yourself.

Bad Boys, JEDI Style by Wawoot. (AU)
 * Recommended by Ryan Lohner
 * Synopsis: The six Star Wars films are a semi-improvised TV show in which the Jedi all play themselves to keep up popular support. And outside the shooting of the films themselves, there's a whole other story going on involving the labyrinthine relationships between the characters and a whole lot of romance (I'm not putting it in the shipping section because there's a lot more to the story than that and most of the romances involve OCs).
 * Comments: God, how to describe this one? That synopsis doesn't nearly do it justice. It isn't the broad parody you might expect from the setup, though a lot of it is certainly extremely funny. Rather, it's more of an AU story which treats the Star Wars universe itself seriously while giving sometimes silly and sometimes quite moving reasons for the films' more...eccentric elements. The changes in tone can even be a bit jarring at times, possibly due to the author's bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, she permanently retired from fanfic writing in 2007, leaving this a Dead Fic, but she put up a thorough synopsis of the rest of the story that she had planned.
 * It's a dead link, could somebody find it again?
 * Done. No synopsis, though.
 * I am definitely backing the recommendation. The "Star Wars movies are a TV show" theory turns all of the plot twists into brilliant Crowning moments of funny. Anakin is endearingly characterized as an artsy, awkward young man who constantly gets hospitalized for ill-timed accidents, and his relationship with Padme is easily one of the best aspects of the fic. Minus the Force and spaceships, this is exactly the kind of messy turmoil that goes on behind the scenes and it's wonderful to see it written so perfectly instead of Played for Drama.

Flight School by yonwords. ""Can we please teach now?" Klivian asks. "Before they all walk out and we get fired?""
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper.
 * Synopsis: A Choose Your Own Adventure fanfic with Multiple Endings. It's your first day of flight school, taught by Wes Janson and Hobbie Klivian of Rogue Squadron, and it's definitely not what you expected.
 * Comments: It's fun. Each path is fairly short. None of these endings have the nastiness and The Many Deaths of You that usually come with Choose Your Own. The closest it comes to any of that is one ending where you embarrass yourself and are told that a visit to the infirmary might be wise, although fear of expulsion is constant. A few paths have your fellow students speculating that the whole mess is a Secret Test of Character designed to evaluate how well they react to unexpected events. While it may dial up Wes's Crazy Awesome persona even more than in an Aaron Allston novel, that's standard for fics involving him. Again, it's just fun.

Sibling Rivalry by Vader's Fallen Angel.
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Synopsis: Relationships can be grand or small, long-lasting or ephemeral. Family relationships are the longest-lasting, and Anakin and Owen Lars share a relationship nurtured by the woman who birthed one and nurtured the other: Shmi Skywalker. This story compares the overarching relationships of son, husband, father and brother of the two men.
 * Comments: Cleanly and touchingly written, they meet psychically on many levels and just miss on many, as well. As the summary states, "The step-brothers only met once, but they understood sibling rivalry."

The Path of Rebellion and Burning Bridges by Gold Seven
 * Recommended by Verity
 * Synopsis: Half a year before the battle of Yavin, Samica Trey, a female Imperial TIE pilot with some doubts about the orders she's been getting lately, meets Rebel Alliance Intel op Rhun van Leuken when he's captured aboard the Star Destroyer she's stationed on. She makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to defect... and that's only the beginning.
 * Comments: Written up from the author's Star Wars roleplaying campaign, and really, really good. This is as good as or better than some of the official stuff, IMO. The characters are interesting and well-defined. I only wish there was more of it.

Heart of Darkness by Cka3ka "Nura: "Condition Red protocol?"
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Status: Dead Fic.
 * Synopsis: An AU universe story in which Vader discovers Leia is his daughter when she is ten years old and takes her to train her, take revenge on Sidious and rule the galaxy. Leia takes his ambitions to heart and meets up with and influences every character and aspect of the original trilogy. Quite realistic with character changes that happen gradually and the characters stay true to themselves even under different circumstances.
 * Comments: Currently incomplete but a brilliant story. At least two other authors have written stories based off her work.
 * User:USA Bobcat: D4's Code Red protocols.

D4:

D4:

D4:

D4:

D4:

D4:"


 * Comartemis: Six chapters in, barely out of the prologue, and I'm already in love with this one. I've seen fics where Vader finds one of his kids before the movies but I've never seen them executed quite like this. Vader is very much in-character, but his interactions with Leia are amazingly touching, to the point where it's easy to forget that Vader is still Evil with a capital 'E'. Very much looking forward to see where this one goes.
 * User:desdendelle: this is brilliant. Too bad it is unfinished.

Misunderstood by Quill of Molliemon
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Synopsis: Obi-Wan trains Vader.
 * Comments: Anakin Skywalker is trained first by the Sith before running away and straight into the arms of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan is tasked by the council to train and protect Vader from the Sith in exchange for information about the servants of the Dark Side. I didn't think it would be nearly as good as it was.

Crystallize by Torch.
 * Recc'd by: Joysweeper, who every few months reads a lot of good fic.
 * Synopsis: A peaceful mission develops some unforeseen complications, and Qui-Gon Jinn learns something new about Obi-Wan Kenobi, and something new about himself.
 * Comments: It sounds like slash. It's on a Jedi slash archive. It hints at slash, and Obi-Wan happens to be bisexual, and this version of the Jedi order allows relationships at any level. It builds up very slowly to a point where slash seems inevitable. It's not slash. Still, not a bad story. Very quiet and comfortable.

Yoda's Shadow by amthyst-fire
 * Recommended by: Krisnack
 * Synopsis: Via an act of the Force, Luke, Leia and, a redeemed Vader are transported back in time just before the events of The Phantom Menace. Palpatine's plans are about to hit a very big roadblock. Better Than It Sounds
 * Comments: It gets off to a rocky start, but the writing quality quickly improves. Among the highlights are Yoda and Mace Windu discussing plans to renew the Jedi order, Luke getting slapped by Padme after he reveals that she's his mother, and Obi-Wan catching Darth Maul's severed arm and realizing that it was who cut it off.
 * 'Quickly'? This troper got nine chapters in and gave up. The writing is choppy and tends towards a lot of As You Know in both dialogue and the narrative, and the character interactions feel horribly rushed and unrealistic. Maybe it hits its stride once they get to Naboo, but everything so far has been head/desk worthy. Needless to say, Your Mileage May Vary.
 * I read it and found it meh. It had a good idea, but, like it's sequel, it could have been so much more.

He Believes
 * Recommended by Elenor
 * Synopsis: an AU story where Vader won on Mustafar told from the point of view of Obi-Wan Kenobi. You haven't seen this before, no matter how familiar it sounds.
 * Comments: I personally liked the first chapter better than the second. In all honesty, sometimes it's nicer to live lies, especially when the truth causes so much pain.

Diplomatic Emergency, by bactaqueen
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: A slight EU of part of Starfighters Of Adumar; in the novel, Wedge refuses to take Tycho and leave Wes and Hobbie in charge on the ground because he knows they'll fail at diplomacy. This fic imagines what would happen if he'd forgotten about that.
 * Comments: Wes has some spectacular judgment fail. I liked the Indy Ploy nature of the whole thing, and how they almost got away with not letting the two responsible Rogues know what happened, only to be foiled by the smell of wet paint.

Rogue Leader, by jaded_reality
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: On Hoth, Luke Skywalker - leader of Rogue Squadron - is missing presumed dead, and so Wedge Antilles has to step up.
 * Comments: I like this one for several reasons. One is that it's from an era we don't see much of - Crack Shots was set a while before this, but not a lot of others are from that period. Another is that it's serious without being a Dark Fic. A third is that this is before Wedge, Wes, Hobbie, and Tycho all really trusted each other, and so there's actually some personality conflict.

Subtle Designs, by pen_and_umbra
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Captain Pellaeon believed only in himself and the Empire. It took a miracle for him to start trusting legends, too.
 * Comments: "Preslash", but no more intense or explicit than in The Thrawn Trilogy. Ohh, I would read a book about Pellaeon serving as Thrawn's Commander Contrarian...

The Chosen by NKSCF.
 * Recommended by Blastermaster
 * Seconded by Perelandra
 * Synopsis: When newly-promoted Jedi Master Ken Elegin receives a vision of the destruction of the Jedi two years after the end of the Lost Tribe of Sith crisis, and sets out to gather a group of Jedi, traitors, and civilians in order to stop it, while their enemies plot to kill them off one by one.
 * Comments: At first I thought that the author, NKSCF, was an attention-seeker, since the majority of his author's notes in the first few chapters were all about how he lost his ability to see who could see his story and how they could send reviews to him. But when I e-mailed him to call him out on this, I was surprised to find out that there actually is a problem that can appear on Fanfiction.net, where a story can end up losing the reviews sent to it, which is a crime, because this story is absolutely awesome! In an attempt to make the Marty Stu Ken from the Jedi Prince novels into a real character, while using as many canon characters as possible to show that not everyone needs to appear once and then be forgotten. NKSCF has a great knowledge of Star Wars lore, but he has admitted that he checks his facts and gains new ones by researching on Wookieepedia. The story is on-going, and is now one prologue and nineteen chapters in. The author's profile page says that the story will end up having thirty-three chapters total, and one epilogue.
 * Man, I love how this guy gets his continuity right. He's not afraid to add a little of his own stuff in there, but I can't find anything that directly conflicts with canon. He may rely on using a lot of references to species and planets that the casual reader will be scratching their head at, but it's all good fun, and the story is really intriguing, which is funny, because I always hated Ken as a character until now. Perelandra

Hull #721 by Eleventh Century Remnant
 * Recommended by Vehrec, User:USA Bobcat
 * Synopsis: Early production run Star Destroyer Black Prince is recovering from a battle with the Mon Cal cruiser Mon Evarra, when things get...political. In the wrong place at the wrong time, the crew is caught between the sector government, the Emperor's Privy Council, Black Sun, some local aliens with genocidal tendencies, and the Rebellion. How can they survive? Well, for starters, they're one of the best crews with the best officers on a heavily modified ship that can kill planets in its 'stock' configuration. Add to that the backing of pretty much everyone in the Imperial Navy who wants to actually do their job...
 * Comments: Perhaps the only great Star Wars fic focused on a Capital ship, Hull 721 still has its flaws. The author uses a difficult writing style that has turned off a lot of people to the story but at the same time creates compelling characters, living breathing world they inhabit, and space combat that combines fighter strikes, long range battles of maneuver, expert gunnery and technical prowess and even kamikaze ramming. Synthesizing over 30 years of the movies and the EU into a cohesive doctrine and creating realistic feeling combat in a space opera setting is just the cherry on top. And This Tropper isn't just saying that because he was written into the story, only for the character to be blown up at the end and spend several months in reconstructive surgery in the sequel.
 * User:USA Bobcat: Hard to get into from the start, but once you do... It's just as well thought as Dragon Age the Crown of Thorns, and written in a similar manner, except for the fact that it is slightly harder to read. Crown of Thorns takes it's time to either bring the reader up to the pace, or has a character explain in layman's terms what is happening, and the fic suffers from a lack of that. But despite that, it really does show just how zany and smart the officers of the Imperial Starfleet have to be to be any good at their jobs, and how that technology interacts with the rest of the story. For example, Commander Mirannon once killed three Jedi with a remote control for the Black Prince's compensators. An experienced stormtrooper describes it vividly. It is complete with funny moments, awesome moments, and truly heartwarming moments, even for the Empire. A Rebel Spy turns to the Empire because she is told that the Star Destroyer that killed her parents was destroyed by the Black Prince. It wasn't, but Captain Lennart passes the word to another member of their squadron, which is promptly boarded, and eighty-seven men were found guilty of numerous crimes.

Lost Time by sithwitch13
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Wedge objects very strongly to Tycho's treatment following his recovery from Imperial custody. Tycho is none too happy with circumstances, either.
 * Comments: I am a sucker for Heterosexual Life Partners. I love the intense loyalty Wedge has for his friends, and the way Tycho holds up under suspicion. This fic hits all three counts.

My Father's Eyes by Jedi-Princess-Solo "But my father's legacy is more than just the dread of the darkness, it's hope, as well."
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: With the birth of her youngest son, Leia finally makes peace with her father's legacy.
 * Comments: I did wonder why Leia chose to name her son after Anakin and not Bail Organa. She spoke with her birth father's spirit in The Truce At Bakura and was not happy to see him. But while this does have a hint of a trope which I despise - that her adoptive father isn't her "real" father, that she's not really Leia Organa - it does have some good reasoning, and I like the sad, contemplative tone. Found thanks to [[http://community.livejournal.com/crack_van/tag/star

Chasing Redemption by Estora "The Darkness bristled in annoyance, but Sidious allowed himself a smile. Patience was his virtue; time, his ally. Galactic domination was going nowhere; that could be achieved with or without Anakin, with or without Dooku, and with or without Kenobi. Nevertheless, he was pleased with the beginnings of his latest masterpiece, and he paused to admire the hand print, red and raw, flourishing on Kenobi's face.
 * Recc'd by Lady Lurker
 * Synopsis: AU. When Anakin dies, Obi-Wan is left to pick up the shattered remains of their lives. The Supreme Chancellor seems to offer escape from the grief and guilt – unfortunately, he's also just decided that Obi-Wan will make a perfect replacement apprentice...
 * Comments: Seriously. You read it right. This story is going to be a Dark-Side Obi-Wan. And the best thing is? It's frightening realistic. Beautifully explores what grief and mourning means, and keeps the reader in suspense. Also, one of the best-written Palpatines this troper has read in a very long time:

He'd wanted to do that for a while."

"Palpatine: Those, Master Kenobi, are the words of a Jedi.
 * Seconded by Polyxena. Again, Estora effortlessly blends angst with humour, managing to explore dark themes with perfectly paced humour to both lighten and bring a new depth to the story. This is all about the Negotiator vs. the Sith Lord...let the mind games begin!

Obi-Wan: Well, I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you, Chancellor, but I AM a Jedi."

Like Breathing by Penknife "He's not angry; it isn't even a struggle anymore not to be angry, as easy as breathing in and out. Something to do all his life."
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: "the Cup of Compassion is bottomless." Gen(-ish), immediately post-Return of the Jedi. Also seen here.
 * Comments: Luke is a complicated character whose personality, even in canon, varies wildly Depending On the Writer and the situation. Here, just after Return of the Jedi and, apparently, just before The Truce At Bakura, Penknife writes him with a kind of weary, weighted-down characteristic that I find immensely appealing, even if it's short.

This Ship by Treenahasthaal
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Endings are easy. It's the new beginnings that are difficult. A missing ANH scene.
 * Comments: I like filling-in-the-gaps fic. This addresses Luke's Angst What Angst in ANH in a way that feels believable. I like Obi-Wan's awkward attempt to help at the end, too.

Chosen by Fialleril
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: When Shmi Skywalker was thirty seven years old, she went out into the desert... Pre-TPM, the story of Anakin's conception and birth in a Tatooine context.
 * Comments: I like! It makes sense that the slaves on Tatooine have a spiritual bent... It also casts Sandstorm, a comic in which a young Luke is lost in the desert and aided by a vision of his father as a child, in a different light.

First Command by Jedi-2B
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Luke's first mission as an officer has unexpected obstacles.
 * Comments: His dismay at encountering a lake he has to swim across... Heh. It also brings up how the dianoga on the Death Star nearly drowned him.

Educating Luke by squelchything
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Shortly after ANH, the gang have some downtime, and Luke makes the acquaintance of large quantities of a certain element.
 * Comments: Similar to the above, a naive young Luke and water. It's cute.

just try not to worry by irnan "Sabé sighs. "Your mother was an excellent shot," she says. "Never missed. Your father... used another weapon. But he was a fighter pilot, so yes, I assume his aim was excellent too."
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Snopsis: This is the last day of Leia Organa's life. From a certain point of view.
 * Comments: The meaning of that is the moment when she stops being the Princess, the daughter of a pacifistic diplomat, and really is the child of her blood parents. There are three of these - one ten years after Endor, when she has forgiven her father and she and Luke visit the world, and she states that she wants to train as a Jedi. One's the night the Death Star exploded, when he shows her what it means to be a Skywalker - to let the Force guide her. The last, the earliest-set, is when she's training with blasters on Alderaan and demands that her teacher - one of Padme's handmaids - tell her if her parents were good shots.

Leia's thin fingers tighten a little on her blaster. "My parents were excellent shots," she murmurs. Her mother was a quick study, a natural with languages, kind, compassionate, always believing the best of people –

They all say Leia's like her, but they're wrong. She's not kind. She's not endlessly patient and compassionate. She certainly doesn't believe the best of people.

But she is an excellent shot.

It's not much, as being like your dead parents goes.

It's enough for now."

Humor
The Vader Monologues by Blind Man
 * Recommended by Ninja Naco
 * Synopsis: Internal discussion between Anakin/Vader's two (later three) conflicting sides throughout the movies.
 * Comments: Utterly hilarious. Sadly, Blind Man seems to have stopped writing fics (due to medical reasons, it seems), but six years worth of excellent humorous dialogue between the two halves of the Chosen One are not to be missed. Complete.

The_Driving_Menace by Lady Alyssa
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Synopsis: Anakin and Obi-Wan give Yoda a lift, to everyone's regret.
 * Comments: A simply hilarious one-shot. Highly recommended.
 * Disagree. Not everyone's sense of humor.

I_Feel_Pretty by kasey8473
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Synopsis: Anakin dons a frilly ballgown as a disguise on assignment. The usual sort of mishaps occur.
 * Comments: For people who think men in dresses is still funny. When stories are this amusing, I certainly do.

A_Fanficcer's_Poem by Angela Jade
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Synopsis: A response to the overuse of the term 'R & R' on fanfiction.net.
 * Comments: This short, classic poem really says it all.

Sibling Revelry by frodogenic
 * Recommended by Fiwen 9430, Errata
 * Synopsis: Some time after Bespin and before Endor, Vader discovers that Luke and Leia are twins. But what really shocks him is the latest Imperial Intelligence report on the nature of the relationship between Skywalker and Organa…
 * Comments: A hilarious AU in which Vader gets the idea that Luke and Leia are still romantically involved and sets out to do everything in his power to split them up. Frodogenic's fics are always great, and this one is no exception.
 * Seconded heartily. This had me laughing from the first paragraph, and I'm not easy to please when it comes to fan fiction. The whole thing was well written, funny, and very logical. Probably the first fan fiction I've read (admittedly, I haven't read very many) which I have absolutely no qualms about recommending.

Men Will Be Boys by Jedi Trace
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Luke plans a surprise Life Day party for Ben.
 * Comments: Action figures.

Crossovers
Legends of Darkover by HRT
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Fandoms(s): Star Wars, Darkover, Star Trek.
 * Status: Complete
 * Warnings: Has slash for the Darkover fandom, though other two fandoms are gen. NC-17
 * Synopsis: The Sith lead Qui-gon and Obi-wan on a chase between galaxies. But why are the Sith so interested in the Federation planet of Darkover? The Jedi realize they need help, and the crew of the Starship Enterprise discover they have been volunteered.
 * Comments: It's a tricky thing to write a believable crossover, much less one with three canons, yet Legends is about as solid a piece of writing as you're going to find. The author does a very good job handling the Sith, who usually end up too stereotypical and cartoony.

Conquest by Mike Wong (Link)
 * Recommended by Omeganian
 * Fandoms(s): Star Wars, Star Trek.
 * Status: Complete
 * Warnings: If one prefers Star Trek to Star Wars you might be in for some disappointment.
 * Synopsis: A Federation starship stumbles upon a wormhole between the two galaxies. In the Star Wars Galaxy, the Fate of the Jedi era in canon is replaced by the rising of a new Empire. Being the Empire they promtly invade the Star Trek galaxy. There is quite an intersting twist involving the origins of the Star Wars galaxy.
 * Comments: Though the Star Wars side is vastly superior overall, the Star Trek side is still portrayed quite positively.

The Death and Life of Han Solo by GreatOne
 * Recommended by: RabidRainbow
 * Fandom(s): Star Wars, Indiana Jones
 * Status: Complete
 * Synopsis: Han Solo disappears during a test flight, and when Luke and Leia find him, he's in a very unexpected place.
 * Comments: Yes, Han Solo is reborn as Indiana Jones and Luke and Leia (thanks to space shenanigans) travel to 1930s America to get him back. Personally, I thought the ending was a bit weak but overall it's a very fun and well-written little fic; it's humorous and also quite touching in parts.

The Evil Villain Henchman Exchange Program, by Rhianwen (crossover)
 * Recommended by Renita
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: A spoof ROD / Star Wars crossover where Wendy and Darth Vader switch bosses.
 * Comments: A work in progress.

Unity by Chuck Sonnenberg. Yeah, that guy. (crossover)
 * Recommended by Ryan Lohner
 * Synopsis: Unity, an epic crossover with the Star Trek universe featuring just about every major character from both franchises and doing full justice to every single one.
 * Comments: Talking about it any more than that would be providing unforgivable spoilers, just trust me on that.

Legacy of the Red Sun, The Empire's Revenge, and The Last Son of Krypton by Darth Marrs (AU, crossover, character death)
 * Recommended by: SAMAS, Unclouded_TJ
 * Synopsis: A retelling of the original trilogy with a big twist: Luke Skywalker and his family died in a landspeeder accident, but fate has provided the galaxy with a new hero: a child carried in a ship from the doomed planet of Krypton.
 * Comments: A fantastically inventive and impressive For Want of a Nail trilogy. Some events are so out there it takes you a second to adjust to what you've read. What I enjoy the most about these fics is that Superman isn't a Boring Invincible Hero. He's a character where all his faults and weaknesses are displayed and his triumphs are actually earned.

Gods of Dark and Light by Darth Marrs (AU, crossover)
 * Recommended by: SAMAS
 * Synopsis: The Battle of Endor is indefinitely postponed by the arrival of the Ori. With the Emperor, Death Star, and Corsuscant all fallen, Darth Vader must join forces with the rebels and reunite with his children to reestablish the Jedi.
 * Comments:

Imperial Eva by The Tower
 * Recommended by Zagreus
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Synopsis: Double crossover with The Dark Tower and Evangelion. In a complicated plan to resurrect the Crimson King, the Man in Black uses Leliel's Dirac Sea to send Shinji and Unit 01 to Hoth duringthe attack on the Rebel base there. Leliel doesn't take too kindly to this, and transports the Rebel ship Occulous to Tokyo-3 in defiance. Shinji is adopted by Darth Vader as his new apprentice, while NERV attempts to deal with a ship of honest-to-God aliens landing in their city. And that's just the beginning.
 * Comments: Normal crossovers are hard enough to pull off, triple crossovers are even harder, but this author makes it seem damn near effortless. The various franchises mesh very well, and the interactions between different characters are very fun to read. Hasn't been updated since 2008, but the author says he's working on it. Time will tell.

Star Crossed by Stravo (Link)
 * Recommended by Omeganian
 * Fandoms(s): Star Wars, Star Trek.
 * Status: In progress
 * Warnings: Anyone Can Die... even gods
 * Synopsis: An Imperial fleet is transported into the Star Trek universe soon after the end of the Dominion War. The fleet, lead by the young Sith Lord Darth Nemesis, does its best to conquer the galaxy. What none of them know, is that this is part of a game between Q and a mysterious opponent. And Q doesn't know that said opponent plays a much vaster game himself...
 * Comments: See its own page.

Shipping Fics
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Shipping
Lines in the Sand, by ladylazarus
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Pairings: Tycho Celchu/Soontir Fel, implied more than anything. Mention of Tycho/Nyiestra, his canon fiancee, but she's already dead.
 * Synopsis: Alderaan, and Tycho's entire family, is gone, and he is hiding where he's standing on the Despair Event Horizon. Fel worries that his star pupil will switch sides, and goes to talk to him just before Tycho goes on "compassion leave".
 * Comments: Verges on hurt/comfort, but Tycho doesn't let that happen. This is one of those areas of canon that I've been curious about. I love Tycho, and he's good in hinting-at-slash fics.

Everything You Touch
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper, who is on a roll.
 * Pairings: Jaina/Zekk, Jaina/Jagged (That is, Han and Leia's daughter with an Unlucky Childhood Friend who is a Jedi, and also with the son of Wedge Antilles' sister and the best pilot in the empire. EU's complicated)
 * Synopsis: "Everything You Touch Turns To Ash And Gold." Speculation after the end of one novel that Zekk died. Afterlife speculation. Eventually Jaina moves on.
 * Comments: ...I want to steal that title. From the synopsis it sounds like a case of Her Heart Will Go On and I Want My Beloved to Be Happy, and those tropes are there, but gentler and subtler than usual. So is Dead Guy Junior. It's just altogether heartbreaking and sweet, and I don't even like Zekk.

From a Certain Point of View
 * Recc'd by Fireangel 265
 * Pairings: Han/Leia
 * Synopsis: A look at Han and Leia's relationship from different peoples point of view.
 * Comments: Three very different perspectives for the couple, which include Jabba, Mon Mothma, and General Rieekan
 * Joysweeper: ...Eh. My mileage varied. I didn't really like this one. Jabba called Han "my boy" every few lines, and similarly Rieekan constantly called Leia "Little One". Plus, Mon Mothma was shrewish and seemed out of character. I don't think this writer has read the EU much - Han has always been attracted to take-charge women, ever since Bria Tharen; and Mon Mothma might have reasons to disapprove of Han and Leia, but one of them should have been the pain of losing a child in war. I didn't find any of them particularly compelling. But hey, I'm a perfectionist about fics.

Lights in the Valley Outshine the Sun by Elizabeth7
 * Recommended by: Elenor
 * Pairings: Vader/Padme
 * Synopsis: We've all seen stories where Padme lives, but rarely done with such insights into the characters and philosophical turns.
 * Comments: What really sets this story apart is the characters. Everyone is portrayed as themselves rather than be romanticized. Particularly clear in the case of Darth Vader as fans of this pairing tend to excuse him and his actions. Not so here. Very refreshing.

Love Is Blind by furrylittlebantha
 * Recommended by Joysweeper.
 * Pairings: Mara Jade/Wedge Antilles
 * Synopsis: What if events on Niruan had taken a sharp, tragic turn?
 * Comments: The author was inspired by a Crack Pairing challenge, and felt that the only halfway believable scenario Mara and Wedge would be in a serious relationship would involve Luke's death and Iella's too, and not in a Die for Our Ship way. She's living in a dream world, and his is broken. I'm glad I read it. But I don't want to read it again.
 * Warnings: Dark. Very dark. Very very very dark. With a hint of happiness, yes. But dark.

Hitchhiker by Shezan (also archived here on the Jedi Council Forums and here on Live Journal.) ""Wynssa Starflare is a stage name. My real name is Syal, Syal Antilles."
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Pairings: Thrawn/Wynssa Starflare, aka Wedge's big sister.
 * Synopsis: 12y pre-ANH. Lieutenant Thrawn, a rare alien in the Imperial Navy, recently brought back from an empty planet, has to make his way up the ranks and prove himself to the Empire, not to mention First Officer Piett and visiting Holo Net star Wynssa Starflare. Appearances by Sebulba and Darth Vader.
 * Comments: My only real complaint is that the Imperial-class Star Destroyer is called "Empire's Revenge". With all the wonderfully evil names available - Star Destroyers get names like Admonitor, Protector, Reckoning, Immortal, Defiant, Vengeance, and Eviscerator, this one gets Empire's Revenge? This is twelve years before Yavin! If this was post-Palpatine, maybe, but even then, it's a weaker name. There was also a mention of a "laser machine-gun", which seemed weird. And, alas, it's a Dead Fic, not updating since 2003. The author was kind enough to respond when I PM-ed her and did say how it ends, though.
 * That aside, this is an excellent story. Stories involving Thrawn tend to be terrible, but this was well worth the read. The writer, unfortunately, does not keep to the canon standard of never showing Thrawn's thoughts, but this only happens very briefly and doesn't ruin his mystique. Thrawn plays people against each other the way you'd expect him to, so people who aren't immediately repulsed by him quickly come to be on his side. A lot of things happen at the same time and the pace is quick. The romance aspect is part of the story, but not overplayed. This chapter has Thrawn trying to explain how he read something from Duros art, and while every similar explanation that I've ever seen has been one level or another of bullshit, this actually seemed sound.

"Syal," he repeated slowly, trying out the long diphthong, like wine in a glass. "I like it. It suits you.""

Theory and Practice by Halrloprillalar
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Pairings: Luke Skywalker / Biggs Darklighter
 * Synopsis: Rated PG-13. Luke kisses a girl and it doesn't go so well. Biggs offers to help him practice.
 * Comments: I just really like the narration. They're such teenagers.

Anabasis by Fialleril
 * Recommended by Battle Hamster
 * Pairings: Anakin/Padme
 * Synopsis: An AU where Vader started out on the Dark Side, and killed Palpatine to save Padme. The twist: it's set after those events, and Anakin is imprisoned by the Jedi, who don't believe it's possible for a Sith to turn good. Padme is working to free him, with help from a certain Jedi Master Yan Dooku.
 * Comments: The characterization is great, and everything fits together so beautifully. (It's kind of hard to explain without going through the whole plot.) It is unfinished, and the writer can be a bit slow to update, but it's a must-read.

Man's Best Friend by Varghona; also found here.
 * Recc'd by Joysweeper
 * Pairings: Wedge / Wes, offscreen Wedge/Iella and Wedge/Luke
 * Rating: R
 * Synopsis: "Wes Janson's long dark night of the soul." During Starfighters of Adumar, there's a point where Wedge gets Wes to guard the hallway while he speaks to and hooks back up with Iella, and ends up leaving Wes out there all night. This focuses on what Wes was thinking.
 * Comments: I'm always interested when ficcers write about the different sides of Wedge Antilles, and this one does - the side the public sees, what Starfighter Command sees, what his friends see, and that hidden, weak side. Plus, I'm a sucker for a little heartbreak. It's also nice to see slash that doesn't really bash women.

''Reconcilation by Jedi Senoj 451
 * Reccomended by Lady Nomad
 * Pairings: Anakin/Padme
 * Rating: PG
 * Synopsis: Having survived the PT and OT, Padmé and Anakin meet one last time to travel the difficult path to forgiveness.
 * Comments: This is one of those fics that could make you cry and wish for what might have been. The characters have changed only to meet the times and it gave you the closure that you longed for after Revenge of the Sith.

From The Ashes, by Estora
 * Recommended by The Beach.
 * Synopsis: AU. Anakin jumped after Padmé on Geonosis, and in that split second, the entire course of the galaxy's future was changed...One moment. One choice. A lifetime of difference. Initial Anakin/Padmé, extremely slow-building Anakin/Obi-Wan.
 * Pairings: Anakin/Obi-Wan (SLASH)
 * Comments: Yes, that means it starts off as Het and moves to Slash, but note that it's a WIP, currently twenty-seven chapters and over 100 000 words, and nothing slashy has happened yet except a bit of unconscious flirting. Estora takes her time to develop the characters, keeping them amazingly consistent with their film portrayals, and effortlessly blends angst and humour while exploring the depth and glory of the human heart. This fic is seriously an epic, and definitely worth checking out. It's a slash story for people who don't like slash, that's how good it is.
 * Seconded by Gwydhhien, who doesn't even like slash but is immensely enjoying this story. Contains some real gems, including the incredible and REDEEMED character of Padme Amidala. The only character who is written from first person POV, Estora's Padme is engaging and a joy to read and has definitely made up this troper's disappointment with her at the end of Episode III. Padme, next to Mace Windu, also easily has the best lines in the story. It's worth reading just for those two characters.

Three Weeks After The End Of The World (And Counting) by penknife.
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: When everything falls apart, you still have to figure out what to do next.
 * Pairings: Han/Leia, some hints of the Leia/Han/Luke threesome
 * Comments: After the End, except it's not quite the end. A few weeks after Return of the Jedi, some horrible plague was unleashed from the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, and the big three and Chewie have been running in the Falcon. Han gets sick, . It's darkfic, but with a distinct note of hope at the end.

Drive You Mild by obaona
 * Rec'd by aimsme
 * Synopsis: How do two powerful, individualistic people who were formerly enemies unite? Emperor Luke Skywalker, meet Jedi Knight Mara Jade.
 * Pairings: Luke/Mara
 * Comments: I may just be a sucker for political intrigue and tastefully handled angst, but I've yet to come across a Luke/Mara fic I've liked more. Both are slightly OOC, but no more than you'd expect given the nature of the Alternate Universe, and all in all it's fabulous.

Stuff by Gheorghe2
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: One of the seminal Luke/Mara fics, written before the Hand of Thrawn duology. Luke is terribly depressed after Callista's departure, and Han talks Mara into recruiting him to help find out what happened to a lost New Republic Intelligence agent. Vast amounts of sexual tension and anger are exchanged.
 * Pairings: Luke/Mara. Reference to Luke/Callista and Mara/Lando, and Han and Leia are clearly Happily Married.
 * Comments: What can I say? Found it here. I'm actually not sure if I like it - while characters are certainly more recognizable than in some profic, I'm not sure of them. I felt like arguing several times, and when abortion of all things came up I almost quit. The main, non-relationship plot felt a little sketchy, too. But it was engaging, had some clever imagery and turns of phrase, and I don't regret the time I spent reading it.

What Love Is by Corana
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: A series of not even vignettes about moments of married life.
 * Pairings: Luke/Mara
 * Comments: I just thought it was sweet.

A Small Change of Plans, by Varghona
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper
 * Synopsis: Wedge confronts Luke about his failure to rendezvous after Hoth.
 * Pairings: Luke and Wedge. There is no sex, but the situation's still slash.
 * Comments: It seems utterly realistic that Luke, by haring off to go to Dagobah instead of meeting the Hoth evacuees at the rendezvous as he said he would, would do more than ruffle feathers. If anyone else had done it, they'd be charged with deserting under fire and likely executed. Wedge is furious at him, and Luke is so slow to realize that it's more than personal. I just like that unexplored aspect to it - the fact that this sets Luke up as being outside of the Rebellion's usual structure fascinates me.

Perfect Odds by Plaid Butterfly
 * Rec'd by Joysweeper; Elenor
 * Synopsis: Luke Skywalker gets help from Anakin's spirit on the battlefield - even against his own wishes.
 * Comments: It's marked as a horror story, and despite not being extremely graphic and not killing/hopelessly ruining any named characters, the label's correct. It touches on something I like the thought of - most of Anakin was redeemed and put at peace, but there was still a part which is decidedly evil.