Silent Hill/Fanfic Recs

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

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Silent Hill fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Page Reconfiguration in Progress: Fan Fic Recommendations is being split into pages for each individual series, so help is needed to classify each entry into the appropiate category, and to format it according to the template.

Authors, and Websites
The Silent Hill Slash LJ Community and Silent Hill Fics
 * Recommended by zipzip
 * Obviously there's always The Silent Hill Slash LJ Community and there's also the more gen oriented Silent Hill Fics LJ Community but sh_slash updates much faster.

Alba Aulbath
 * Recommended by zipzip
 * This troper readily suggests everything written by Alba Aulbath. Warning: Adult.

Maiafay
 * Recommended by zipzip
 * One of the greats—if you're still not satisfied, try reading her Resident Evil fics. Warning: Adult.

chaosdreamer
 * Recommended by zipzip
 * One of my favorites authors is chaosdreamer. Warning: Adult.

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.''

Silent Hill: Praying in Vain by hauntedheadnc
 * Recommended by Extraintrovert
 * Synopsis: Similar to Silent Hill 2, a woman wracked with guilt receives a letter from a person long dead, she journeys to Silent Hill to uncover the truth, and in the process fights for survival against literal and figurative demons. Any more information would result in unforgivable spoilers.
 * Comments: This is a brilliant piece of Silent Hill fanfiction and a superb horror story, the closest thing to an "original" Silent Hill novel one is likely to find. Highlights include a original version of the series' iconic Dark World, a wonderfully human protagonist, and the most extensive picture of past and present Silent Hill I have ever seen. Admittedly rather slow to become established and begin the story, but once it does it grabs hold of your face, smashes it against the screen and only releases you long enough to go to the next chapter. A word of note, however: this story has a very strong (some would say Anvilicious) anti-abortion message that some tropers felt made it nearly impossible to read.
 * This pro-choice troper actually didn't mind it.
 * This very-apathetic-about-abortion troper feels that certain people who leave rude reviews need to learn the difference between a story about abortion, and a story with abortion in it.

The Bitter Season by ClayPidgeon162
 * Recommended by User:Alhazred
 * Synopsis: A US Marine, apparently suffering PTSD after seeing combat on a tour in Iraq, goes AWOL, wraps his car around a tree while hearing the love of his life talk to him in his head, and finds that the nearest town is a quaint little place called Silent Hill.
 * Comments: Written by an actual Marine, The Bitter Season is, quite possibly, an even better take on the idea of a soldier's deep-seated, past guilts bringing him to Silent Hill than Homecoming, and this troper says this while planted firmly in the apparent minority of gamers who actually liked Homecoming. The fic is not without faults; the imagery is sometimes over-described to the point of Narm, especially when military words and things are in-focus, although this particular criticism should be taken with a grain of salt. In particular, the author doesn't seem to understand that two different characters should not share dialog in a single paragraph, but considering the frequency it occurs, this may be more of a weakness in proofreading. For possessing of such an elementary mistake, the big picture here is that the story is still excellent and well worth the time to read. The author has a very clear grasp of what he wants to do, and does it remarkably well, with solid imagery where it counts plus a tight grasp of the source material and literary technique in general. This troper was sold early-on when he realized the Marine  something the dialog lampshades, but long enough after the visuals start adding up that the astute reader will pick up on it first. Furthermore, the author is not at all afraid of breaking conventions and balances risk with originality very well. This troper can't remember the last time   with consequences both physically and symbolically, planned as an actual plot-point instead of as a cheap shock twist or torture-porn.
 * This troper would like to point out that this story has been removed. According to the author's profile, however, a rewrite may be in the works. Hmm...too delete this entry or not delete this entry, that is the question...

A Stray Child / You're Not Here by Stinkbomber
 * Synopsis: Novelization of Silent Hill 3. A Stray Child retells the game from it's beginning, till and Heather's arrival in Silent Hill. You're Not Here continues this and gradually brings an alternate take on the ending of the game.
 * Comments: I can safely say that this, for me, is the most well-written and engrossing piece in the fandom, so far. I had first read it years ago and I still remember it impressing me, especially the final chapters. Silent Hill 3 was an installment of the series that put a big focus on the characters as individuals, and this novelization handles the characterization in a brilliant manner. And most of all, manages to actually capture the atmosphere of Silent Hill.
 * Also, to note, the story is goddamn horrifying. As in even more frightening than the game is. Luckily for the reader, there are a few moment which act as breathers, and they are much needed. As the above troper noted, the atmosphere in this story is superb, and much like the game, seems to embody the ideas of despair, paranoia, and abject terror. It also serves to fill in a few blanks as to what some of the characters besides Heather are up to during Heather's screentime.

Supplanter by Knick Knack
 * Recommended by Extraintrovert and somebody Else
 * Synopsis: A continuation of Silent Hill 2 after the "Rebirth" ending, in which Came Back Wrong.
 * Comments: Combines an abundance of Body Horror with Nightmare Dreams while increasing the standard Silent Hill Mind Screw by at least a magnitude to create a truly terrifying and brain-breaky glipmse at how bastardly the town can be. Potential warning: some readers may consider this as falling into True Art Is Angsty and/or True Art Is Incomprehensible.
 * Relinked, due to original being taken down.

Silent Hill 4: Introspection by D. Natali
 * Recommended by Arktos
 * Synopsis: Novelization of Silent Hill 4, as told in first person through Henry Townshend.
 * Comments: Perhaps the second-best Silent Hill game novelization this troper has seen. Not only does the author include painstaking details that flesh out the plot in a bit more depth while remaining faithful to canon, but also provides very good in-character interpretations of Henry, Eileen, Walter and even some of the minor characters, to a lesser extent. Really worth a read, unless you dislike any semi-mild Ship Tease between Henry and Eileen.

Save Point: Hell Is Repetition by Patrick Phelan
 * Recommended by Kchasm and somebody Else
 * Synopsis:
 * Comments: Like somebody's groping through my mind... (Silent Hill 2 one-shot)
 * I have never read a piece of fiction quite like this one. Never has the act of repeating oneself been so ominous or sinister. Also, some very good use of dramatic irony.

Unmuted Hill by Red Arkanz
 * Recommended by mimichan 3
 * Synopsis: The characters of Silent Hill meet and become friends. Then they have adventures and stuff.
 * Comments: It starts as a susprisingly well done insight into the beginning portion of SH2, then leaps out of nowhere into a gut-bustingly funny crack fic. One of the best to me, but YMMV.

Quiet Hill 4: Not Another Parody by Slap Dash
 * Recommended by mimichan 3
 * Synopsis: Follow Henry as he blunders his way through an assortment of wacky worlds in an attempt to escape from his room, all the while disrespecting and being disrespected by everyone he meets!
 * Comments: An incredibly witty spoof of Silent Hill 4, with loads of shout outs to the previous games! Shame that the author hasn't updated in awhile...

Silent Hill by Aeris Gainsborough and X-treme
 * Recommended by Orpheum Zero
 * Synopsis: A novelization of the first game. Join Harry Mason, a novelist who takes his daughter Cheryl to the eponymous town, only to wind up in a nightmarish world and his daughter missing.
 * Comments: If there was to be a novelization of the game, I would only hope this author would be the one penning it. Not only is the creepy atmosphere preserved, it gives greater insight into the world beyond even what the games ever offered. Throw in some clever references to the popular horror stories that inspired the original games, and you have a delightfully scary story to read in the dark.... A sequel was made by the author, but unfortunately hasn't been updated in years.
 * Your Mileage May Vary. This fic does have a good plot and interesting adaptations, but the writing is bad. Not terrible, but bad enough. Mistaken homophones, many parts where Beige Prose rules unchallenged, incorrect apostrophe usage... I don't feel compelled to say it's worth my recommendation.

Atonement by Feriku
 * Recommended by User:REV 6 Pilot
 * Status: Complete.
 * Synopsis: Three years after the events of Silent Hill 4, Henry receives a letter from "an old friend". Which happens to be a revived, non-psychotic Walter Sullivan, who is looking for his mother in Silent Hill.
 * Comments: This one was meant to be a Crack Fic like the others on the author's page, but the idea was quickly discarded in favor of a tasty Continuation Fic that offers everything in Silent Hill in text format: monsters, battles, exploring, puzzles, sounds... You name it, it's there. It's also the juiciest plot I have ever seen in a Silent Hill fic - and it manages to turn Walter into a woobie of astronomical proportions. He used the city for what he did...

Letter from Silent Hill by Ryan M. Usher.
 * Recommended by Aranamor
 * Status: Complete with a rewrite.
 * Synopsis: A novelization of the events of Silent Hill 2 from James's perspective, the story goes into depth about his personal life and motivations as he goes through his ordeal in Silent Hill.
 * Comments: While novelizations are a dime a dozen, this story features incredible characterization and really captures the feel of the game, with a focus on it's effects on the protagonist's mind and resolve. The story also features a rewrite, accessible on the author's page, that addresses the few grammatical errors and plot holes. Overall it's very enjoyable.

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

Keeping Count by Alba Aulbath
 * Recommended by zipzip 90
 * Pairing: Harry/Kauffman
 * Synopsis: It would have made sense for Kauffman to die after the events of Silent Hill 1, as it is, he survived there until, almost two decades later, when Harry returns after
 * Comments: One in a superb series, the slash is somewhat subtle (after all, this is still Kauffman we're talking about here.) The ending is perfectly fitting for the games, and the characters are very well... characterized.

Your Dark God by Dreamerchaos
 * Reccomended by zipzip 90
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: Your Dark God is a reimagining of the second game—with many of the author's own WMGs thrown in. In her 'verse, James can create monsters, Pyramid Head's role/relationship is confusing yet fitting as you will see.
 * Comments: This has to be one of the more under-appreciated fictions ever to exist in the fandom. This isn't quite slash, but it if you are a slasher, this will not disappoint. The only thing I will note that the first few paragraphs which follow the actual game events can be a bit over-familiar to long-time fans, but stick around and you won't be sorry to see how dreamerchaos' ficverse comes together.

Embracing Death by Sulhadahne
 * Reccomended by twilightscribe
 * Pairings: Walter/Henry ; later James/Pyramid Head and Heather Valtiel
 * Synopsis: Embracing Death is the first in a long series of fics that go from an alternate ending of the fourth game as imagined by the author. It's a beautifully constructed series that better fleshes out some of the characters and does them justice; especially since it explores Henry's character in-depth and explains why he is the way he is. The series follows Henry and Walter's relationship as they gradually grow closer and eventually become a couple before introducing a larger arc involving the Cult and its plans for the future.
 * Comments: One of the most underappreciated fics for the entire fandom. It's beautifully written and atmospheric, but also does the characters a lot of justice. The first one might be a little bit of a retread of the fourth game, but as the fics go on they build more and more on the universe that the author is trying to create all the while introducing new characters and arcs. It does justice to each of the characters and gives a few of them some new life and making Henry a very believable and sympathetic character.

Return to the Shadows by KatieByHerself
 * Recommended by Tony Branston
 * Pairings: Harry/James
 * Synopsys: Conclusion of the author's four part post-SH2 slash story - "In a post-SH3 world, James and Heather struggle to make sense of what has happened to their lives, and how they can get back what was lost."
 * Comments: Quite well written. The author has a decent grasp on most of the characters (the most probable exception not appearing in this story), but I'm mostly recommending this one as it's where they finally go back to Silent Hill.

There She Goes by Saint Sentiment
 * Recommended by User:Beary Scary
 * Pairings: James/Laura, Henry/Eileen
 * Synopsis: Post Leave ending. After James is convicted of murder and sent to prison, his future doesn't look so bright. Then, a decade later and a year after his release, an old friend comes back to pick up the pieces.
 * Comments: This is simply a sublime piece of Silent Hill 2 Continuation Fic. It doesn't have James returning to Silent Hill or anything like that, but There She Goes is transcendentally Original Flavour in terms of human drama. I defy any fan of the game to not immediatly relate to James' new trials; it's hard not to read his dialog in the voice of his original VA, Guy Cihi. While it uses the game's most "ideal" ending as a jumping-off point, James' life is hardly wine and roses as he attempts to reintegrate himself into society, while making as few personal connections as possible. The story's ending taps into the possibly Accidental Aesop of the original game - that you can, and more importantly, should move on from tragedy and live life on your own terms, at your own pace.