Classic Epics: For the Enrichment of the Illiterate Newbie

Gotta' whole heartedly agree with LLL on that one. Walberg's "Dark Empire" series, and "Father's Heart" were THE first two fanfics I read on the net. They made me realize there was a place for all this stuff, and to date they are both still standard bearers close to my heart.

And everyone know how much of a big oqi fan I am...

 

OK, probably the oldest news ever, but the reason I fell in love with fanfiction...

Dark Mirror by Gandalf the Grey
The sequels 'Dark Journey' and 'Dark Apocalypse' follow in the same thread.

IIRC the author is still around under a different name, too. Don't ask me wich, if I knew, I'd have told you.

 

Raven.

 

I think I got more than I bargained for with this thread. Today I have to do an adv. chem lab, and physics lab, four essays, five calc lessons, and Spanish homework. And I've spent the entire morning reading. Oh my gosh, it's been fun, though! Dark Mirror was absolutely amazing. Thank you, everyone, for sharing all this splendorificnous with us!!!!!

 

Thank *you*, furrylittlebantha, for creating this thread. It was a great idea. I've made a list of all these titles for some lazy summer day when I have nothing to do. When there's no homework, no stress...

 

Gotta add Fall of the Sith by Souderwan. A true classic. In the same vein, The Shadow of Vader is an edge-of-your-seat, whoa-he-did-NOT-just-do-that adventure of the highest order. Both of them I highly recommend as two of the most plausible, brilliantly executed RotS AUs out there.

 

I think this is a great thread. Thank you, furrylittlebantha.

Might I recommend ophelia's Spirit Warriors of Angharad. It's by turns funny, heartwrenching, and thought-provoking; when I first read it a couple of years ago, I thought, '*This* is what SW fanfic is meant to do.'

I am not sure if it really counts as the Great Galactic Novel, the one that's stood the test of time, garnered renown, and has been beloved by legions of readers, because it sadly didn't attract lots of responses, but it is certainly long enough. Personally, I think of it as the definitive Obi-Wan//Anakin adventure story, and I've got it saved in my hard drive.

 

Here's perhaps one of the funniest (albeit unfinished) epics on the boards: Planet Hopping. It's so funny that it should come with a disclaimer about the potential for choking on food and snarfing liquids. The author is Yodimus and no, he's not in prison--or so he says.

 

Burn! Burn! Burn! by oqidaun

OCs, horror, Dark Drama, PT era...if you're into all those then this one's deffinetely a "must read" for you. And if you don't believe me then maybe ths list of awards will sound more convincing.

Best Canon
Best Drama
Best Epic
Best Ensemble Cast

A Resolution Between Shadows and Light by SakuraTsukikage

The Epic of Epics when it comes to Mustafar AUs. I think its hit epic length by now but at the same time quite managable and so engrossing that you'll read it in a couple of sittings no problem! She doesn't update very regularly anymore but its worth the wait and definetely worth the read.

The Shadow of Vader by Darth_Vastor

A ROTS (and OT) AU "must read"! Beautifuly writen with something that can be so hard to find -- spot on characterization.

Includes a Dark!Obi and Sabewan. A/P plays a rather prominent role as well for those who find that paring a "must."

 

Great thread! Thanks, furrylittlebantha!

Though unfinished, Time and Again by Aunecah_Skywalker is great.

Also unfinished, The Mirror's Other Side by Arwyn_Whitesun is awesome.

 

I don't know if it approaches epic length, but obaona's The Cell is a darn good story.

It's ... it's ...

... it's probably on her profile somewhere? I hope.

 

Here's the link - The Cell by obaona.


Others that I don't think have been mentioned yet - For My Soul is Touched and I am Hollow by Jedi_Suzuran, and Price of Sacrifice by CalaisKenobi.

 

This is a great thread, furrylittlebantha! Though I love fics of all sizes, epics are my favorites!

Here is a fic I don't think anyone has mentioned yet: The Circle by Lisse. I passed over this one in the Classic forum many times before finally checking it out. The header said "AU Futurefic" and at the time I had not yet read any of the NJO; I thought it would just be an EU rehash. I was very much mistaken, and after discovering the complexity of the story, I lost myself in it for hours and hours. Lisse has started rewriting the story, which can be found on the Beyond the Saga forum here. Personally, I would suggest reading the first one, because I think it is awesome and will probably make you better appreciate the rewrite. Plus, the rewrite is only into the first several chapters, whereas the older version has over 100k words. This story is one of the reasons I fell in love with AU epics, and I highly suggest reading both versions!

I know there are others I read in my early days! If I find them again, I'll post them here!

 

I'd recommend LadyPadme's series:
Of spies and Sabacc:
http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=9050405&start=9060885

All's fair in love and war:
http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=10154893&replies=1

The Jade Profecy:
http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=12835125&replies=2

A phoenix from the ashes:
http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16101705/p1

They're absolutely amazing. Romance, political intrigue and action with a superb writing style.

 

Aww, I've read most of these! I guess that just means I'me a very literate newbie!

For L/M lovers, Gabri_Jade's Infinite Possibilities
http://fanfic.theforce.net/fanfic.asp?action=view&ID=1003 is a must. It is in the Archives, which means you can read this amazing post-TLC love story in one go!

I'll come back with more linkies later!

J_Ro

 

A must read from the golden days:

A Night to (Almost) Remember by Jemmiah & Co. It's a hilarious Round Robin that was written by 10 different authors.


Though I honestly recommend ALL the stories in the Jemmiah chronicles: Link to their web archive, the Hell's Chance Cantina


Also:

My Dear Padme by the collective works of Mara Jade,Emperor's Hand, Jedi Master Mara Jade, Alderaan 21, The Musical Jedi, Hiroko01, and I feel like I'm forgetting someone... Wonderful old story.

 

Thanks for the contributions, folks! They are much appreciated. Maybe when school cools off (that is, when I graduate) I'll compile everything into an index. Then things can be nice and official.

 

Why has no one yet mentioned tych_sel's Hand of the Empress and Imperial Destiny? Those are definitely among the most amazing stories ever. Hand of the Empress is finished and locked, I think. But Imperial Destiny is a WIP- it is 27 pages with 50 replies per page. A must-read for all L/M, Sith, and Imperial fans.
As many others have mentioned, "By The Grace of Lady Vader" and "Ascension of the Queen" are absolutely required in fanfic. There's no way you can read Saga or Beyond the Saga fanfic without reading those- and I've been here for over a year and I just read them a few months ago!

 

I don't think that anyone has mentioned these yet.

By A Route Obscure and Lonely

To Serve My Master

are two great stories by VaderLVR64.

I think both are epic length or approaching epic length.