Alias

And Possibly I Like the Thrill by Kathryne
Jack/Irina - A tantalising, season two story set during Irina's captivity. This story captures the crackling UST that caused your tv to spark whenever Jack and Irina got together during this time. The story takes the build up on its natural course and the result *very* appealing. Irina is manipulative and Jack is conflicted. Perfect.

Facets by Selenak
Four times Arvin Sloane fell in love, and one he didn't. Wonderful insight into Crazy Uncle Arvin here.

Worn by Otter
Will/Vaughn - set immediately ADS (After the Death of Sydney). Scorchingly hot and delightfully loyal to the two characters involved. But it's the details that make it work and make it more than just a sex story - the broken conversation, the meaningful looks and the intensity that is burned into every touch.

Bristow's Kryptonite by Jennifer-Oksana
Jack/Nadia - Jenny O turns Jack's attraction to the Derevko women into an obsession. Jack is a compelling character on the show, here he is an enigma. Volatile, tortured, fractured - a delicious portrayal of a great character.

Alison Was Here by cgb
Most excellent fic dealing with Alison, and how she feels about her makeover and her life, such as it is, and how she will get her revenge on Will. A fascinating, well-considered character piece, despite some name misspellings. We wouldn't say that lightly. Take our word for it.

Lucky Girl by Karen T.
A chilling, but plausible portrait of Lauren, who grows up in Sydney's shadow. The writing is good, but what really stands out is the atmosphere, the way Lauren is created to shadow Sydney.

What You Never Knew You Wanted by RJ Anderson
An alternate season 3, of sorts, in which Sydney's missing years were filled with more than assassinations, violence and bad dye jobs. Or were they? RJ lays the groundwork from the beginning, but I was still surprised by the ending. A Syd/Weiss with a twist, featuring great lines and fantastic characterisations.

Bristow's 11 by Yahtzee
This is classic Alias, and Yahtzee pulls it off with style and flair. A Rambaldi artefact is being held in a Las Vegas vault, and Jack Bristow has a Plan that will eventually involve the whole cast -- from Will to Lauren to Sydney herself. Everyone has a job. Everyone has an agenda.

Stasis by Katya
An AU that puts an intriguing spin on post-season two events. A nice light touch on the writing too. A pleasant surprise.

Have the lambs stopped screaming by Mala
Set during Taken, this story imagines the interaction between Sark and Dixon's captured daughter, but brings a surprising weight to the conversation.  It seems to say something I always knew was true, without being able to put my finger on what it was exactly. 

Tense and Skin by Vaznetti
This has probably one of the best Lauren character characterizations I've seen, flowing easily from anger and resentment to sex.  Sydney/Lauren done just right.

Invisible Ink by Cherry Ice
I have a soft spot for Will, especially when he's at his darkest.  And this has a bitter Will, a surprisingly sympathetic Sark, violence, sex, and gorgeous writing. 

Dream it Down by CGB
Everything we love about Jack and Irina, packed into this subtle nugget of a story.  Jack's characterization is especially strong. 

And I am Weary by Tahlia
A realistic interpretation of the latest revelations. Irina and Sloane are both well-drawn, and the prose is tense and poetic. 

Fragments by Saffron
Beautifully written and laden with the significance of sisterhood and sins of the mothers. A very appealing idea that's a joy to read.

Not Quite Nothing by LizBee
Oh the boyslash angst! Liz makes Will/Vaughn believable (and somehow manages to throw Jack in there too) and saucy.

The Thought That Counts by Yahtzee
Gorgeously melancholy. Fantastic exchanges between all characters but mostly Irina and Jack.  I love the way the "hanging on" mood is conveyed. Everyone is just hanging on, barely. And you get the feeling that you might actually be pleased to see Vaughn meet someone new after all this.

When Stavros Met Sophia by C. L. Kamnikar
Sydney.  Weiss.  A hotel room.  A certain amount of -- play acting.  While Syd/Vaughn is all about the Big Doomed Angst, and Sarkney is about the fast cars, guns and angsty, angry sex, Sweiss is slower, gentler and funnier.  Much funnier, in the case of this fic.  Sex and humour should be combined more often.

Safecracker by Yahtzee
Katya, Jack and Irina.  Nothing so crass as a love triangle, just a woman contemplating her complex life and relationships.  As always, Yahtzee captures the characters and universe with great skill and subtlety.  Yahtzee is one of those writers who reliably churns out top notch stories and this is no exception.  Alias writers should be taking notes.  The show would be lucky to create a conversation with half of this story's depth or nuance.

Forfeit by Rez Lo
A harsh look at Sydney’s alienation in light of the events of season three. The unflinching Sydney of this story is in many ways, more compelling than the Sydney of the show.

Between Past and Present Tense by Zara Hemla
I think it's the attention to detail that makes this story - the little bits and pieces that bring the scenes to life. But that's to say nothing of the great dialogue and characterisation. I think it's a deft touch that writes a character in torment with enough subtlety to make it believable. Yes, I liked this very much.

Tippin Syndrome by JennyO
Between this and "Aqua Vitae" (recced above), one could be forgiven for thinking that Will's abduction was just part of a fandom-wide conspiracy to Bring The Gay.  In this amusing and bittersweet story, Will finds himself with s bit of a mancrush.  JennyO writes a good Will and a great Jack.

Lockdown by Nanda
Jack's six months in solitary.  The second-person narrator creates a haunting sense of inner separation. Pre-season 2, but effective nonetheless.

Airs, Waters, Places by Vanzetti
Post "The Telling".  Jack seeks Sydney.  I like this for what it doesn't do -- Jack's relationships with Irina and Sark are never resolved, leaving us wanting more, and fearing that we might actually get it.

Fighting the Inevitable by Tamara
Along with sequels "Kindred" and "Resolve Impaired", this is sad and compelling future-fic, as Vaughn finds himself half in love with Irina Derevko.  The language is lovely.

Aqua Vitae by Rhysenn
With Will as his prisoner, Sark finds a new variation on Chinese water torture.  Rhysenn makes little things seem sexy.

Tango by JennyO
Jack and Irina, second person.  As always, Jennyo captures the characters, and has a great ear for dialogue.  And I have a weakness for second person narrative.

Song to the Siren by Parker
Parker nails Will in this painfully plausible post-Telling story.

Anon, Anon by Cherry Ice
I'm not sure who I hurt more for in this story: Will or Vaughn.  Both of them are tearing themselves apart and it's a beautiful thing to watch.

Cynara by Rez
Rez carefully creates a universe where it makes perfect sense to bring a jaded Sydney and a bitter Sark together. But she doesn't take any of the easy roads; there are no obvious answers.  Lovely, lovely work.

Belfast by Auburn
This is the first in a series that becomes increasingly complex with each installment.  All of her characters are note-perfect, but I'm particularly fond of Auburn's Jack.

Communique by laras_dice
Sydney/Vaughn the way it should be done.  Excellent characterization, strong, clear writing and forbidden lust. It's all good.

The House that Jack Built by Kat
I searched high and low for fanfic focused on Jack, but there wasn’t much to be found. This story, however, almost makes up for it. Kat’s characterization of Jack keeps his flaws intact, and yet, you hurt for him with every word. Wonderful job.

Blessed be the Ties that Bind by Mala
Mala puts her own twist on A Dark Turn with this post-ep. Irina remains sympathetic, but neither the writer nor the character flinch away from her true nature.

Sfumato by R.J. Anderson
This story has amazing insight into the character of Irina/Laura and explores her motivations, then and now, beautifully.

In Step by Nestra
Sydney. Vaughn. A pair of high heels. It doesn't even have actual sex, and manages to be hotter than most of the NC-17 fic out there. I think I'm getting a shoe fetish, dude. Uh, did I mention that it was hot?  Inspired by the EW Alias spread.

"_____" by Elizabeth
A dark chocolate nugget of a Jack-fic, seen by an unusual OC. The writing is stark and beautiful.