XF, BTVS, WW by Thuvia Ptarth (various)

[field_reports]

Thuvia Ptarth's gift for breathing life into minor characters (and major -- see her X-Files fic Subaqueous) in many ways captures the spirit of why we write fanfic to begin with. Her prose is beautiful, but more importantly, is always on the mark. After a few short paragraphs I feel like I know the people she's writing about. Especially recommended: On the Way to Grandmother's House (Buffy) and The Daughters of Abraham (my first West Wing fic, for those keeping track).