Amplirecathon 2013: 9 AU podfic recs

[chestnut_pod]

Nine of my favorite AU podfics, in a few fandoms and no particular order. Ratings range from G to NC-17. The title links don't go the the archive but to the performer's post, because I think they deserve ALL the comments! Many thanks to my fandom neighbor J for logging in and posting this for me while I’m away.




1. I Bet Nureyev Never Had to Deal With This Shit, an Inception story performed by emilianadarling and written by cobweb_diamond. PG-13.



Arthur has managed to achieve a principal role in the Royal Ballet Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, having just returned to dancing after a serious injury. However, his co-star Eames might just drive him insane before Opening Night.

This is a comfortably long podfic, about two hours. Emiliana has a real knack for dialogue. The story has a few brilliantly funny parts where the dialogue is key, and her delivery was absolutely spot-on. (Arthur’s dry wit was particularly good.) She also does accents, something I’ve never been picky about but find enjoyable here.


2. Loki and Toni’s Excellent Adventure in World Saving, an MCU story performed by reena_jenkins and written by pprfaith. Mature.



In which Loki and Toni try to save the world, Steve is obnoxious, Clint has no patience for artsy movies and there are cupcakes. And issues.

Reena_jenkins is wonderful at maintaining a lively tone in non-dialogue sections, which sometimes get a little flat. I love this performance because her delivery of Toni’s mental dialogue is perfect, bouncy and energetic or serious and raw. And her voice for Loki is, just, hnnng. Very highly recommended.


3. in another country (people die), an MCU story performed by reena_jenkins and written by pprfaith.



“'The world is not your playground, Stark!' Fury yells at him one time, after he maybe brings down a building or two and Tony just laughs because, seriously, yes it is."

A close-canon, sort of mirror ‘verse AU. Another rec for the inimitable reena_jenkins/pprfaith team. Another point, as well, for reena_jenkins’ amazing ability to convey emotion in every word she speaks. This is a much darker story than the one above, and the viciousness and anger and hurt she manages to convey are delicious. It gives me shivers. I also quite like the coverart for this one.


4. i just happen to like apples (i am not afraid of snakes), a Good Omens story performed by darlingsweet and written by gyzym. G.

Written for the following prompt: "Someone write me Crowley the bitter lesbian who only gave Eve the apple because she thought feminism should be there from day one." As such, please be warned that this story contains some fairly radical reinterpretations of Biblical stories and themes; if that sort of thing is not for you, please give this tale a pass.

Darlingsweet has an excellent Crowley voice. I like how it seems flat, but the glee and anger and disappointment and whatever else come through underneath. Very appropriate.


5. Skin Deep, an Inception story performed by anatsuno and written by starlingthefool. Mature.



A story that starts with a spiral, ends with a fire, and is stained with ink and blood in the middle.

(In other words, a tattoo shop AU that totally took on a mind of its own.)


I don’t quite know if this story counts as an AU (it seems like pre-canon to me), but it is my favorite podfic of all time, and so gets a spot on the list. Anatsuno is of course a master reader, but I think she outdid herself here. Her reading is lively and engaging; her dialogue is expressive and totally in-character; the recording is clear. I will carry this on my iPod until I die.


6. Questionable N, an Arabian Nights story written and performed by fresne. Teen.

It was a story told a thousand and one ways. What was new was the voice of the teller. What was new was the ear of the listener. The way the threads of the story wove one to the other.

This is basically the ultimate AU fic, which explores storytelling and the way stories change with every experience. What I like best about this performance is the way fresne has a different voice and reading style for every story-within-a-story in the entire 20 minute podfic. It makes the shifts between times and tellers distinct and colorful.


7. Downpour, an Inception story performed by k_town and written by rageprufrock. Mature.



"'I'm not letting you go back to that house.'"

This is a Mentalist fusion, so I obviously should warn for extreme sadness. K-town does a marvelous job imbuing all her reading with melancholy, a little bit of franticness. The story is Ariadne-POV and K-town’s performance is just about perfect. For such a short podfic, it packs quite a punch.


8. The Trouble With Witches (at least the evil get to go home early on Fridays), a BBC Merlin story performed by quintenttsy and written by netgirl_y2k. G.



In which Morgana is adopted by a baby dragon and has very mixed feelings about the whole thing.

A close-canon diversion AU, but significantly different (and awesome) enough to merit inclusion here. I love quintenttsy’s voice in general; I think it’s engaging and pleasant to listen to. Here, she uses it to great effect with Morgana’s rather deadpan inner monologue. It’s sarcastic and even without being flat.

9. i am the hero of this story (don’t need to be saved), an Inception story performed by quintenttsy and written by electrumqueen. G.



it's all right-- no one's got it all. mal wakes up; dom doesn't.

I’m cheating again, because this isn’t an AU, depending on how you view the ending of Inception, but it is fabulous and it counts if I want it to! I love the timing in this one. This is a fic with a lot killer lines which need some time to you luxuriate in, and quintenttsy leaves perfect little pauses right where they’re needed. The pacing is great in between the pauses. And I like the musical selection.

Comments

[shibuya]

Thank you! =)

[leish]

quintenttsy here, and wow, thank you so much for the recs! <333333 Also, I love all the podfics on this list except Questionable N, which looks awesome and I will be listening to it ASAP. Thank you :D

[k_town]

Um, wow...i don't think i've ever been rec'd anywhere before. i was just looking for new things to listen to and was surprised to see something i did on the list. i'm super flattered and glad you enjoyed it!

[sevilemar]

Thank you for this. I've just downloaded almost all of them, and will listen as soon as I have a bit of spare time.

[chestnut_pod]

Well, I can almost guarantee a good listen :)