.hack/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. *No-name recommendations will be **Zapped (wiki)**.* Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into homosexual or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

## General Fics

*Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.*

.hack//UBIQUITY

* Recommended by Mysterynovelist 2010
* Description: Ignoring the events of The World R:2, .hack//UBIQUITY focuses on a Wavemaster named Navel who is wrongly accused of PKing a few player who slipped into a temporary coma when in actuality, said player had been eliminated by an illegal monster. Things become suspicious as two players of The World scheme to find a way to enter The World as Harold once did and need Navel's best friend Lawk to serve as an 'experiment' and soon Navel finds himself thrust into a twisted conspiracy that is bent on altering The World forever.
* Comments: This intriguing and rather exciting fanfiction Needs More Love. It is an excellent twist on the .hack// series, and the relationship between Navel and Lawk is touching as well and despite the fact that its action scenes need some work, it serves as an impressive sequel. Note that there are implications of Ho Yay, but very subtle ones.

## Crossover Fics

*hackEVA: Catharsis*, by AlfheimWanderer

* Recommended by Comartemis, Rivenscryr
* *Status*: Complete
* *Synopsis*: CC Corporation is promoting their newest game by sending out thousands of free laptops preloaded with *The World: R2*, and Shinji Ikari has just received his copy. Seeking to flee from his issues in the real world, Shinji jacks in as the Adept Rogue Skari. But this is .hack// we're talking about, and as Shinji is about to discover, the line between fantasy and reality isn't so clear-cut as one might like to imagine...
* *Comments:* No, you read that right. It's a bonafide .hack/Evangelion crossover, and though this troper hasn't finished reading yet, he's already impressed enough to deem it worthy of this list. AlfheimWanderer has done a magnificent job of taking the best of the philosophical themes found throughout the .hack series and spelling them out in plain and simple terms, so even those who've played all the .hack games, seen the anime, and read the novels will probably find something new to think about here. The story as of chapter 11 seems to bear a closer resemblance to .hack//SIGN than any of the games; there isn't a whole lot of overt conflict against a concrete enemy (yet), but there *is* a lot of character development and exploration of the themes found in the .hack series; fans of the original quartet will be pleased to know that What Measure Is a Non-Human? is back in full force courtesy of Morganna and Lycoris being resurrected *in Tokyo-3* via reality-warping backlash from a failed Third Impact.

## Shipping Fics

*Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.*

.hack//Gathering of the Unwilling

* Recommended by: Red Viking
* Pairing(s): Atoli/Haseo/Shino/Alkaid, Kite/Black Rose, Kuhn/Mai
* Description: After the battle with Cubia in .hack//GU, they thought it was over. But Morganna soon returns and seeks reclaim the power of the Epitaph Users, which she sees as her own. As she grows in power, the Epitaph Users find themselves allying with the former dot hackers in order to defeat her.
* Comments: This story draws upon the All There in the Manual nature of the series and runs with it. It has Loads and Loads of Characters and, just like the regular series, it's easy to get lost if you're unfamiliar with certain aspects or characters. It also get's just a little cliche near the end. That said, it's very well put together both in story and in format and is, overall, a worthwhile read with a sequel on its way. The emails at the end of each chapter range from flavor info to plot points and downright hilarity.

*.hack//G.U.: The Staircase to Nowhere* (link)

* Recommneded by: Mysterynovelist 2010
* Pairings(s): Atoli/Haseo and hints of Shino/Haseo in earlier chapters
* Description: Ryou Misaki is an ordinary teenager just trying to get through life. But after finding a mirror with mysterious powers, a strange girl named Atoli appears out of seemingly nowhere. Will Ryou ever be able to master his power? AU
* Comments: Amazing Alternate Universe fanfiction that casts the Epitaph Users as gods/goddesses of individual worlds who are at war with each other in order to become the successor for Morganna. Includes Badass fighting scenes, intrigue and suspense, the cool Transformation Sequences, and really gets into the heads of the characters.

Victorious

* Recommneded by: Eriyu
* Pairings(s): Haseo/Endrance
* Description: "Events surrounding the Sage Palace tournament, and how they lead Haseo to view Endrance in a different, warmer light." Continues past Sage Palace too, actually.
* Comments: Haseo and Endrance are amazingly in-character, and Endrance's feelings are seriously touching. I've always loved this pairing, but this is the fic that actually made it seem *plausible* to me, as a real relationship. There's also an in-progress sequel, Veritas.