If you only listen to ONE podfic in a fandom...

[knight_tracer]

If you only listen to ONE podfic in a fandom...

It turns out that I have lots of podfic FEELINGS, even in fandoms I’m not really in. I love podfic, and I routinely listen in fandoms I don’t read. So if you were considering trying a new fandom, these are pretty good places to start. I’ve tried to mostly rec AUs, but in all cases I think you can listen and enjoy regardless. [This post is parts 1 & 2 combined, part 3 is here.

Disclaimer for EXTREME personal bias! Feel free to add dispute/ideas in comments :D

Merlin
Drastically Redefining Protocol by rageprufrock - Merlin/Arthur - 5 hrs.
By revolutionaryjo here and lunchee here
Summary: In which Prince Arthur meets Merlin and all hell breaks lose.

So, so beautiful. This was my first experience with repodding and it completely won me over forever. I have epic personal issues with Royalty, but this podfic is amazing and very amusing. I had no previous experience with Merlin fandom, and my first impression was: MAGIC!!!!

If you liked that check out (all modern AUs) Student Prince read by pandarus, Pairing Pendragon/Merlin read by lunchee, Easy There read by revolutionaryjo, and Lord Drake’s Bequest read by pennyplainknits.

The Social Network
The Secret Life of Daydreams by hapakitsune read lunchee - Chris/Dustin, Mark/Eduardo - 4 hrs 45 min.
Summary: When the wealthy Dustin Moskovitz arrives in Meryton with two companions in tow, he throws the quiet lives of Christopher Hughes and Eduardo Saverin into chaos. Christopher finds himself falling in love with the charming, affable Dustin while Eduardo and Mark never cease arguing long enough to realize that they may be a good match.

!!!!! Pride and Prejudice AU !!!! In case the exclamation marks didn’t give it away, I am ecstatic about this podfic. The story is an excellent reworking of the Austen novel, while it stays faithful to the spirit of the novel, it doesn’t get tied down in detail. The reading is amazing and is told with great energy and enthusiasm. I am in love with lunchee’s Eduardo voice particularly, it always seems to hold such sensitivity and emotion. Every voice is distinct and vibrant, and I care SO much for all the characters. Dustin and Chris are a dynamic duo here, it takes a lot to distract from my Mark/Eduardo love, but I was equally invested in the relationship of Chris and Dustin.

If you liked that check out Clockwork Heart ‘Verse read by leish and Place that Don’t know my Name read by lunchee.

The Social Network RPS
Giraffe Notes by jeyhawk read by lunchee - Jesse/Andrew - 2 hrs 34 min.
Summary: The impossible love story of a mouse and a giraffe featuring a crush that last a decade, a very grateful movie star, the fine art of falling in love over the internet, a possibly naughty tattoo, three awesome friends, cats, nerves, and a spectacular first date.

This was my first experience entirely with The Social Network fandom. I listened without even reading the podfic summary. I am SO glad that I did, I was blown away by how amazing this was. This podfic is perfection and the most adorable thing EVER. The characters are marked really well and lunchee puts so much enthusiasm and emotion into the characters. My heart belongs to Jesse in this podfic, but Andrew is delightfully done too with brilliant energy. If you have the podbook version, lunchee has embedded it with visual references, but they are also described delightfully well so if you miss them it’s not the end of the world. I missed them my first time around , and I was perfectly delighted with the excuse to listen again.

If you liked that check out Carry it in my Heart read by huntsmonsters (warning for unfinished, but still very good and I took the end of part 5 to be the ending until I was informed otherwise and I thought it perfectly brilliant regardless).

Inception
I have nothing to do today but smile by gyzym read by pennyplainknits - Arthur/Eames - 1 hr 51 min.
Summary: Arthur's a corporate lawyer, Eames owns the coffee shop across the street, and all good love stories start with a quadruple shot latte.

COMFORT PODFIC OF JOY (and baking)!

If you liked that check out, Call and Answer by anatsuno, Ach, des Knaben Augen read by pennyplainknits.

Supernatural
Crush by sonofabiscuit77 read by crinklysolution - Dean/Sam - 7 hrs.
Summary: Five years after the apocalypse didn’t happen and Sam and Dean have settled down, or as much as the Winchesters can ever settle down. Sam is a college professor and Dean a well-respected small business owner and they’re learning how to balance work, hunting and dog-ownership while coping with the metaphorical and literal scars of war. Life’s not perfect, not for a (sort of) out and proud couple in small town USA with a lot to hide, but they’re dealing, that is, until Dean employs one sexually-confused teenager who develops an unhealthy obsession with both of them... Switching between five years earlier and now, we learn how the boys came together, how they made it through the big fight and whether they’ll ever manage to find that flighty temptress, happily ever after.

Future fic! Soul bonding! Outside character POV! ALL SO AMAZING.

Supernatural RPS
If the Sunset Turns to Morning by mournthewicked read by juice817 - Jared/Jensen - 7 hrs.
Summary: Jensen spends his life hiding who he is from the family that would never accept him if they knew. When he’s uprooted in the middle of his senior year and suddenly becomes the new kid, his carefully placed mask begins to slip. Especially when he meets Jared – a loud, outspoken spectacle of a boy that fights for everything Jensen was taught to stand against. Jared has no problem going after what he wants, and now it’s just a matter of Jensen letting himself do the same.

Hearts breaking ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! So EXCELLENT and AWESOME!

For a different flavour of J2, SOUL BONDING! ! ! Imprint read by juice817.

Harry Potter
Warnings! Unfinished. I feel awful recing this because it’s unfinished and likely to remain so. BUT, it is my FAVOURITE thing! So, I’m recing it anyway. I apologise. Also a warning for irritating background noise - I apologise again. Still, LISTEN!!! EDIT: IS NO LONGER ABANDONED!!! STILL WIP, BUT WE HAVE A NEW CHAPTER \O/ ch 12

Drop Dead Gorgeous by mistful read by mcollinknight - Harry/Draco - 11 hrs
Summary (as written by me): Harry and Draco are Aurors (and partners). Also, Harry is a veela! Cue ANGST!!!

I have not experienced a more appealing Draco in all my (but quite limited) experience. Nothing makes me laugh more than the ridiculous banter of Draco and Harry. It is delightful and fabulous. I have listened to this more times than I can accurately estimate. :D :D :D

For a Remus/Sirius flavour of HP:

As Red as Hearts and Autumn by rosemaryandrue read by adistantsun - Sirus Black/Remus Lupin - 5 hrs 48 min.
Summary: It's the autumn of Sixth Year, there's a flu epidemic at Hogwarts, and the Blacks want their heir back.

Perfect! I love the how the distinct two points of view are voiced. I love both the Sirius and the Remus' voices SO MUCH! Their banter is just lovely. adistantsun's reading is very atmospheric and beautifully evokes this period of instability and awakening.

If you liked this, check out Stealing Harry read by revolutionaryjo, which I’ve reced before here - it’s one of my favourite comfort podfics. Sirius and Remus adopt Harry and there’s no Azkaban :D


Major League Baseball RPS
Falling Down with a Pure Heart written and read by candle_beck - zitto/chavez - 39 min.
Summary: It's like, you know, a picture of how things are, how you get to be nuts for someone.

I got into these mlb podfics because I was in love with candle_beck’s readings and I needed more podfic, so naturally BASEBALL. This is my absolute favourite and I think is totally accessible to a non-baseball person (AKA people like me). It’s a podfic of meloncholly and love.

It’s written in the second person, which is a style that always makes me a little unsure. However, this gives the story a really interesting tone when read. The repetition of 'you' and 'his' and 'him' creates, for me, a melodic feeling that is VERY POETIC and this makes it one of my favourite stories to fall asleep to.

It's a beautiful story about love, but there's a distinct melancholy tone. We don't get any access to the 'him' only the narrator. There's a suggestion that while the relationship is intense and beautiful, due to their lives and circumstances, it will never be known and it has an expiration date. There is a sense of fatalism which permeates everything, even when the speaker is narrating happy scenes.

'He can't believe how beautiful this place is, he can't get over it. He stares out at the city with a silly grin on his face, and you stare at him, because San Francisco's not the only thing that will take a person's breath away.'

'You've never known anybody's body the way you know his. You wonder if he could say the same for you.'

The ending sentence always makes me cry. And then I laugh, 'Why is it that even my happy stories are kind of sad?'. This is exactly what I was thinking.

If you enjoyed this, The Comback Kid is also awesome!

Sherlock
Backup Copies by etothepii read by lunchee - John/Sherlock - 1 hr 44 mins.
Summary: When John dies, Sherlock doesn't know what to do. But Mycroft does.

This was the first Sherlock podfic I ever listened to. It breaks my heart over and over. lunchee pulls off Sherlock’s emotion with such finesse and subtlety. Also, the little moments of Topher are comedy gold!

American Idol
Far Along This Road by jerakeen ready by klb - 2 hrs 54 min - Adam Lambert/Kris Allen
Summary: One-night stands are not for everyone.

klb is such an amazing reader, I just love how she made me care about people I knew nothing about. I wanted to give both Kris and Adam ALL THE HUGS one minute and bang their heads together the next. It’s a lovely podfic that completely captured my attention, despite the unfamiliar subject matter.

Bandom (you didn't think I'd be able to get through whole rec post without mentioning bandom did you?)

Conclusions by bexless, read by rosekolodny - Frank/Gerard - 4 hrs.
Summary:A bafflingly long-winded, cosy domestic world of fluff! In this universe, MCR never existed. Gerard threw himself into art instead of music after 9/11, Frank owns an indie record label, and Ray is a studio musician.

AND

Forever Now by harriet_vane read by klb - gen - 9 hrs.
Summary: Gerard and Mikey have lost their parents, but they've found Brian.

If you liked these, check out my Bandom Podfic for Beginners rec list.

Teen Wolf:
Teen Wolf is one of my current fandoms, so choosing just ONE is super painful and difficult. After much deliberation I am recing you:

DILF by twentysomething read by rhea314 - Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski - 3 hrs 24 min.
Summary: Today is Scott's first day of kindergarten and Derek is terrified.

I am recing this as my ONE podfic in this fandom, because it’s an AU, non-werewolf story and is SUPER fluffy and cute and adorable. rhea314’s Derek voice is perfect. Every moment of this podfic is a delight to listen to. You feel so hard for Derek, how he keeps his life together and is an awesome dad. Tiny Scott and Jackson are to die for characters, every scene they're in is so cute. It’s a much lighter and happier perspective and I love kid!Scott and kid!Jackson to distraction.

If you liked this check out, Open the Door read by fire_juggler, Adore to see your eyes fly read by dodificus, both I’ve reced before here, and Random Craigslist Missed Connections Derek/Stiles not!fic read by inkjunket.


Due South:

Chicago’s Most Wanted by Speranza, read by bessyboo and moonlingmaid - Mulit-voice podfic! \o/ - Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski - 4 hrs 29 min.
Summary: Sucking cock and robbing banks. Fraser just hadn't been the same since prison.

bessyboo is RayK - filled with drama, energy and dynamism. moonlingmaid is Fraser - subtle, clever and wry. The podfic is fast paced and delightful. It’s packed with action and drama and FEELINGS! I really love how I can connect with the readers’ feelings and emotions. I can really tell that the readers LOVE this story. I love the background extra voices: revolutionaryjo paraka lunate8 sly_hostetter queelez bendtothesun. This is the perfect podfic for a first time listener. It’s a fun ride and is acted perfectly.

There is also a version by zabira, here. I haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but I really look forward to listening to this story from a different perspective.

AND

Some Strange Prophecy by Speranza read by ann_ciudad - Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski - 5 hrs.
Summary: This woman—she's nuts. And she makes him nuts. You may think he's nuts now, but you haven't even begun to see what nuts is where Fraser's concerned.

This probably should not be in this list, because fandom knowledge is probably useful. I didn’t know much, but most people aren’t me so.... But, I can’t not rec it because it is one of my absolute favourites and is superawesome. FEELINGS all over the place. I love the two Rays’ interactions, the phone conversations are so performed with amazing animation. FRASER!!! Fraser has ANGST and I enjoy the shock effect of Fraser's promiscuity, the story handles it really well and I love the complexity the reading brings to him. The reading is perfect! ann_ciudad spins the best narrative and I find this podfic the best podfic for when I want something soothing, but I also want a bit of angst and drama.

ann_ciudad if you are out there, please come back to podfic fandom :)


If you liked either of these, check out, Where the Story Changes by seperis read by kalakirya, and Academic Punk read by luzula - they are English academics, I cannot contain my glee.

Star Trek:

You’ll get there in the end (It just takes a while) by seperis read by revolutionaryjo - Star Trek Reboot - Kirk/Spock - 3 hrs 24 min.
Summary: Spock. Just say 'I don't trust Starfleet not to mess up the only captain in the fleet who I can train up to my expectations and enjoys running into danger wearing a blindfold as much as I do

Oh my god! This podfic is beautiful and amazing and soothes my SOUL! I just re-listened to this yesterday because I’d read something that had sent me into a terrible fit of FEELINGS and sadness and revolutionaryjo’s voice was the perfect application of awesome to make me feel better. Spock’s POV works so well for me and I loved Jo’s amazing ability to make Spock sound badass, competent, logical but also with FEELINGS! (I over identify with Spock sometimes). It’s an amazing story. I love how the story moves between two times and Jo makes each one sound distinct. \bonding/

n/b: pon farr is a thing

If you liked that check out Decimation read by reena_jenkins - girl!Kirk :) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Guaranteed smile.

Also, Spock is KING of the Federation = FAVOURITE THING!!! And Jim being a Prince of America is also pretty awesome. Strive Seek Find Yield read by sevenses 7 hrs. I want ALL the podfic from this reader.

Hawaii 5-0:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by JoeLawson read by flyingthesky- Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams - 3 hrs 40 min
Summary: Detective Danny Williams is not what Steve expected.

Danny is a Mermaid and there is \bonding/!!! It’s lovely and beautiful and this is a delightful podfic. Another one on my comfort pod list.

Avengers:

Semaphore by DevilDoll read by crinklysolution - Steve Rogers/Tony Stark - 4 hrs 27 min.
Summary: "I’m trying to like you, Tony. You’re just making it very hard."

This podfic got me so INVESTED in these characters from the very beginning. crinklysolution portrays the heightened emotions and drama of the story amazingly well. I am in love with Tony's voice in this podfic, it is dynamic and worked for me perfectly. I could not stop listening to this podfic, it was majorly addictive.

If you liked this check out Tomorrow Belongs to Me read by kalakirya and Ready, Fire, Aim read by reena_jenkins.


Random ones where I’ve only listened to one or there only is one:

X-Men films
The Winter of Banked Fires by Yahtzee read by podcath, crinklysolution, helens78, heyiya, luzula, reena_jenkins and rhea314 - 7 hrs 50 min.
Summary: Charles Xavier has returned from the dead -- but is lost within his own mind. Rogue has cast aside her own power and doesn't know where she fits in the world any longer. The production of synthetic Cure means mutantkind itself is newly at risk. And Magneto, turned human against his will, is in despair until the day he feels a familiar consciousness tugging at his own --Set after X-3 (with much desperate fix-it applied), during XMFC, and every time in between.

Collaborations = \o/ This is an epic of brilliance. I love how the different perspectives fit together. It’s dynamic and such an interesting listening experience.

The Eagle
Until the Songs are Sung by carmarthen read by inkjunket - Esca/Marcus - 2 hrs.
Summary:In which Esca seeks out his kin in Hibernia and Marcus goes with him.
Marcus blinks and rubs at his tired eyes, staring at the wax tablet, stylus hanging loosely in his hand. He has been recalculating the figures, pebbles clicking on the counting board, until the numbers swim before his sight, and he feels more and more worried every time they come out the same. The farm is not producing enough to feed him and Esca and pay the field-hands, and little remains of the money Marcus received from the senate for retrieving the Eagle of the Ninth Legion Hispana. This bad harvest is the last bad harvest they can afford, and it does not seem likely that Marcus will discover a gift for farming now.

Such a lovely podfic. I haven’t seen the film, but the book is pretty awesome and still very slashy. I love how inkjunket brings to life the story, and makes the deliberately formal/antiquated dialogue sound authentic and full of emotion. I fell in love with Marcus in a way that I did not expect, inkjunket’s voice for his point of view brought to life his vulnerability. A++

The Fast and the Furious
The Art of Running and Fearless on my Breath by pprfaith read by reena_jenkins - Dom/Brian - 4 hrs.
Summary: The first question to ask any runner: ‘Are you running from or towards?’ – Or: The life of a girl named Brian. AU, genderswap.

Genderswap is a FAVOURITE thing, and it works so well here. reena_jenkins’s girl Brian voice is so kick ass and makes the entire story come to life in a new and exciting way.

Generation Kill/Temeraire
Carrying Dangerous Goods by novembersmith read by dodificus - Brad/Ray - 5 hrs.
Summary: This is a story about Ray and Brad growing up together. Also, there are dragons.

How can you resist Marines and DRAGONS???? This is an impossibility I think.

Hockey RPF:
Hocky rpf, what can I say about you? These guys are often bros, but are always so uncommunicative I could cry.

Not a Heart of Gold by queeniegalore read by anna_unfolding - Patrick Kane/Jonathon Toews - 1 hr 28 min.
Summary: For the longest time this fic was unofficially titled 'Kaner's not a hooker but Tazer probably wants him to be', and I really can't think of a better way to summarise it than that. Many words of Tazer fantasising, pining, jerking off, and paying for sex, because that's apparently how he rolls.

An amazingly well read piece! anna_unfolding creates voices really well, and portrayed the dynamic in a subtle, but still 'in-character' way. This podfic is fun and I loved the dialogue especially. Also, don’t forget to continue to the end anna_unfolding’s porn bloopers are histerical.

Faculty:

Void by waxjism read by dodificus - The Faculty - Casey Connor/Zeke Tyler/Delilah Profitt - 9 hrs.
Summary: AU, completely ignoring the fact that The Faculty is sort of a science fiction/horror type film... Although perhaps three teenagers having this kind of sex life is a bit of science fiction.

I was surprised by how quickly this drew me in. I have not seen the film, I am not even 100% certain which actors portrayed which characters (though I *think* I know). dodificus just sells it really well, so I don't think it matters if you don't know anything about the movie. Each point of view is so wonderfully done, and I kept changing my mind as to which voice I loved the most. It's not always a comfortable listen, but the entire way dodificus is there with you and that makes it AWESOME.


Star Trek RPF:

A passage that sings by dorkorific read by pennyplainknits - Chris Pine/Zach Quinto - 1 hr 40min.
Summary: The one where Chris has stupid glasses and a lot of paperbacks, Zach knows too much for his own good, there are at least two lap dances, and everybody wants to sleep with Dorothy Parker. "Quinto Mad Libs," Cho says. "My date was: mean adjective, meaner adjective, devastating five-syllable mean adjective."

Ridiculously awesome. pennyplainknits's Zach is just perfect and droll and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about it. Such fun!

House:
Eric Foreman Doesn't Take It Up The Ass (But If He Did, It Might Happen Something Like This) by ignaz, read by dodificus - Eric Foreman/Robert Chase - 45 min.
Summary: See title

Ridiculously awesome and funny. I love dodificus's Chase voice and this is well worth a listen :)

And a tiny one for the road:
The Good Wife
This is Why written by smilingsoprano by klb - G - 5 min.
Summary: Kalinda keeps her secrets, and this is why.

I am so in love with The Good Wife and with Kalinda, I want more fic like nothing else. This small podfic captures all my FEELINGS about Kalinda and klb’s reading captures all the emotional complexity. So many lines are hit so perfectly. ‘Happier than Kalinda knows how to be’, hits me so hard and I don’t know why, it just pulls my heart right out of my chest.

Enjoy all these new and shiny fandoms!

ETA: There are more fandoms represented here

Comments

[anatsuno]

Oooh, I see several things are might be interested in, in there! SO THANK YOU FOR POSTING. What an amazing job! :D

(and thank you for the rec! <3)

[knight_tracer]

Thanks. I hope you find something you like. Podfic has led me down many a strange road - baseball will probably remain the weirdest. Picking just one thing is really hard. The most difficult fandoms to pick were Merlin and Inception, perhaps because both fandoms have some great AUs (and great readers). <3 Thanks for the podfic.

[dodificus]

I think I'm going to check out The Eagle one, it seems like something I would have leapt on but I can't actually remember listening to it.

[knight_tracer]

You definitely should, it's so well done. Enjoy.

[leish]

you didn't think I'd be able to get through whole rec post without mentioning bandom did you?

I never had any doubt :D choosing must have been hard, though, but I heartily approve of both!

I've listened to a lot of these, but have downloaded the ones I haven't. Falling Down With a Pure Heart sounds especially great, but yes, thanks for the recs!

[knight_tracer]

Bandom was actually quite easy because I was going with what got me into the fandom, those two podfics were the ones that sold me on bandom when I first started listening to the podfic.

I am not surprised by the baseball, I'm not sure candle_beck even cross-posts to amplificathon either. But, somehow I fell into it and Zito owned my heart. If you like it, just listen to everything with Zito. There is a baseball primer linked in the masterpost, if you get that far :D

Enjoy!

[leish]

Point, those two were some of the first I listened to as well, definitely good for new listeners.

Like you I know nothing about baseball, but your rec sold me so hard. I may have to read the primer too!

[knight_tracer]

'When in doubt go with what worked for you'. That's basically how I approached this list.

Baseball is still basically alien to me. I understand that 'pitchers' are like 'bowlers' in cricket, but I still don't understand the actual rules of the game. The primer is mostly great for getting you interested in the characters. I've listened to all of the baseball podfic, and Falling Down With a Pure Heart is the one that stays with me and I've listened to it over and over. I surprised myself by needing a lot of words to explain how I felt about it.

[idella]

(here via welovepodfic) Thank you for this post!

(If you haven't listened to it yet, this is a great TGW podfic: http://amplificathon.dreamwidth.org/1829211.html)

[knight_tracer]

\o/ I'm glad you like the post. <3

Ooooh shiny new podifc, thank you,

[dancinbutterfly]

Do you mind if I ask a question? Where did you find these other Mark/Eduardo podfic? The podfic archive just has like...4. Where did these come from? Are there more? Can you point me in the direction of them?

[knight_tracer]

Of course I don't mind.
There's amplificathon, sort by tag=social network here.
leish has also made a master post of TSN podfic here, there's lots on here I wasn't aware of until yesterday.
\o/ The Social Network.
<3

[jedusaur]

ann_ciudad isn't gonna have much time for fandom anytime soon, I'm afraid. She's super happy that she managed to get through that epic astolat podfic first, though--I was astounded that she did, given everything that was going on for her while she recorded the end.

[knight_tracer]

Ah, I didn't know that, I hope she gets fandom time again soon. This post was made before the epic astolat podfic, I was very happy when I saw that though.

[jedusaur]

It'll probably be a couple of years, but she's not gone for good. It sounds like the podfic bug bit her pretty hard. :)

[waldorph]

Ahh, this is a great list, can't wait to listen to so many of these!!

[knight_tracer]

\o/ I hope you find things you enjoy. Let me know if anything in particular sparked your interest and I can most likely provide more recs :)

[night_inscriber]

In search of ST podfic I came across your recs.
I listened to "You'll get there in the end" lived it and read the sequel "war games." Both were fantastic. But, the link for the "strive, seek, find, yield" podfic is broken and I've looked quite a bit but haven't found another alternative; do you happen have it?