"And Indeed There Will Be Time" by Kaydeefalls

Title: And Indeed There Will Be Time
Author: [livejournal.com profile] kaydeefalls
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Rating: R
Summary: In 1919, Harriet Derbyshire was killed while investigating the disappearance of Torchwood Four in Dublin. In 2009, UNIT pulls a dying man out of the Irish Sea with a one-word message: Torchwood. Martha joins up with Jack's team in Cardiff to track down the errant branch of the organization – before a time-traveling race of aliens can change the course of history as we know it.
Status: Complete
Length: 43,000 words
Warnings: None
Comment or Excerpt from fic: This is an amazing story. The plot is a wonderfully twisty time-travel mystery, with aliens and paradoxes and cross-time clues. All the characters are really well-done, and especially Martha and Mickey get a chance to shine. The author does a really good job guiding the reader through the complex plot and has also created some truly spectacular original characters. It's also a marvelous Jack/Ianto story, showing their relationship as strong and trusting. One of the best all-around pieces of Torchwood fan fiction I've read.

"Five Complaints..." by Strangecreature

Title: Five complaints that Ianto Jones has thought about registering concerning Torchwood (and one that he did)
Author: [livejournal.com profile] strangecreature
Genre: Five Things, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: R
Summary: The author describes the story as "Crashing around behind the scenes for a wide swath of the first season."
Status: Complete
Length: 4400 words
Warnings: None
Comment or Excerpt from fic: I admit, I'm a huge sucker for the "Five Things" format. Bias aside, though, this is a really good sample of the genre, using the format as a frame and as inspiration, not as a crutch. The story begins during Ianto's first weeks at Torchwood Three and follows the progress of his relationships with the team--and Jack--up through the events of the first season. The "complaints" fit in nicely with Ianto's sense of humor--and sarcasm. It's a nicely well-written and subtle story.

"Torchwood One Archive" by James

Title: Torchwood One Archive
Author: James aka [livejournal.com profile] zortified (Writing journal: [livejournal.com profile] gilascave)
Genre: Angst, Drama, Crossover
Rating: PG-15
Summary: Jack has returned to Torchwood and to Ianto. Ianto is determined to make the best of it but he knows it won't last forever. Their time together threatens to get even shorter when the Doctor shows up unexpectedly.
Status: Complete
Length: 11,500 words
Warnings: None
Comment or Excerpt from fic: This is a good, solid, plotty story. The characters are well-done, and I was especially pleased to see Jack and Ianto interacting like the emotionally awkward men they both are, and equally pleased to see them acting so physically comfortable with each other. Theirs is an odd and difficult relationship to capture, and I think this story does it very well. In addition, the story itself is interesting and engaging and has a fascinating premise. It's also the kind of story that you'll really want to read twice, just to admire the new layers of meaning that show up on the second read. Really well done.

"If Not Wisely" by Liadan14

Title: If Not Wisely
Author: [livejournal.com profile] liadan14
Genre: Angst
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Ianto keeps count. He hardly knows why--it's not like it matters, it's not like Jack cares, it's not like he wouldn't sound like a creepy stalker if he were to say something like, "I remember our seventeenth kiss. It was in the archives."
Status: Complete
Length: ~9,500 words in 3 parts
Warnings: None

Comment or Excerpt from fic: This story snuck up on me. I started reading it and certainly thought it was good, but as the story unfolded I found myself absolutely drawn in and held fast. It's beautifully written, showing Ianto as the more-than-slightly screwed up person he is without taking him out of character. The build-up to the end was very well-done, and the end itself was a perfect grace note to a wonderful story.