Evan Nicholas offers a full-frontal examination of UNCLE's homophobic policies in the appropriately titled Salem. Susan's experiences are all too believable and common, even today. I found Illya's loyalty very touching and his courage worthy of his risk-taking personality, and Napoleon's revelations and ultimate decision are handled nicely. The story doesn't end on the happiest of notes - and this too I found perfectly believable.

Let there be rejoicing - Taliesin has finally put most of her MFU fanfic online. She writes some of the most laugh-out-loud stories in the fandom. One of my favorites is Finders Keepers, a hilarious hide-and-seek story ranging from Brooklyn to Chinatown to Greenwich Village to Illya's bedroom. It's classic screwball comedy with a slashy twist.

There's steak on Illya's dinner plate, but that's not all that's being offered on the menu. In Feed Me, Amethyst Hunter explores the different kinds of appetites, and how to satisfy them. A very nice story, and not nearly as well known as it should be.

I've rec'd this story elsewhere, but I love it so much it needs to be here as well. E. Batagur shows us a completely believable future for Napoleon and Illya in Respect Your Elders. Age has not blunted their razor-sharp wits nor their skills, and this story is just plain fun to read.

Here's a very intense story that delves into the psychological trauma of espionage. Illya is tortured in a unique way, and now he wonders if he'll ever be able to trust his perceptions again. Fortunately for him, Napoleon is there to help ground him in reality, in Channel D's The Real Thing.

Now here's a very clever piece about Illya seeking a psychiatrist's professional expertise. Preposterous, you say? Well, Nataliya's Sometimes A Cigar… not only makes the premise believable, but offers up some delicious character insight - and a nifty disguise, as well.

For something special, try this trilogy by Sensine. It's wonderful - all three stories sizzle. Napoleon and Illya acknowledge their attraction to each other in A Change of Routine, take their relationship to a higher level in the incredibly hot Tight Spaces, and settle some things between them in Blue Water. Wow, what a ride!

There are a couple of authors who keep cropping up in my recs, and there's good reason for that. For instance, Kellie Matthews, who knows her canon and fanon and uses both to good effect. In Footwork, Napoleon and Illya Napoleon go on a lighthearted romp through a ballet company, whiling away the investigative tedium with crisp banter and explosive sex. Until Illya transforms himself and Napoleon doubts certain truths. What follows is a glorious exploration of identity and trust. Kellie's stories rock.

Here's a little story that just blew me away. Napoleon can't understand why Illya is refusing to play games anymore in Pretender. This subtle, understated scene finds Illya and Napoleon at an impasse in their relationship - because one knows what he wants and the other doesn't. It was written specifically to express the emotion of "tenderness". I think Ardent succeeded admirably.

I'm tempted to simply link to The Chrome and Gunmetal Madhouse and suggest you type Cord Smithee into the search engine and read everything he's written in this fandom. While you can still do that, here's a shortcut. Go read Wicked, wherein Illya practices a unique brand of chivalry and Napoleon comforts his melancholy partner. There's commitment and trust and love bleeding through every word. This story is as smooth as a clip sliding home into a semi-automatic, so real I smell the Ballistol. Go read the story to understand the last reference.

Here's a delightful entry from the ezine Incognito. A missing scene from "The Shark Affair", Di T's Passing the Time is an inspired peek at how new partners Napoleon and Illya get to know each other. Very well. Mischievous Illya decides to distract Napoleon from his discomfort. There's a playful charm about both men that fits well with the first season characterizations from the referenced episode.

A man as blessed by genetic good fortune as Napoleon Solo is bound to take certain things for granted. In Nix's The Mirror, Mirror Affair, all that changes in an instant when Napoleon is injured and must relearn who he is and how to interact with the rest of the world. The one person who never loses sight of the real Napoleon is the loyal partner who has his back. There be angst here, but of a different type than usually found in fanfiction.

One of my favorite zine stories has come online. Waiting for Mr. Sternmacher is a sizzling exploration of the games people play, and why they play them. Clare Chew's Napoleon is a conflicted, tightly controlled man who depends upon the security of role-playing in order to have more than a working relationship with his partner. Illya, on the other hand, is ready and eager to cast those games aside. Great voices, wonderful detail, and sizzling sex. C.W. Walker wrote a very interesting review of this story (part 2 is here, but don't you dare check it out before reading the story!

Now here's an amazing story that came out of the delightful "Down the Chimney" Christmas story exchange on the muncle live journal. Meris combined three requests into a single lengthy story that explores Illya's need to belong, a need that takes him on a journey to recapture his past. Much like Dorothy in Oz, he learns that what he really needs has been in front of him all the time. Refractory Period offers wonderful characterizations, good dialogue, and detail that grounds the story firmly in time and place. An exceptional story from an exceptional writer.

Whee! Standard Procedures at UNCLE are just a wee bit different than at most other workplaces. Nyssa takes a preposterous premise and turns it into something hotter than hot. Illya is firmly in control throughout, and Napoleon's bemused submission is marvelous to behold. Fun, fun, fun.

Shay Sheridan does it again, with a sweet little vignette that takes off from a telling scene in "The Fiddlesticks Affair". Blink of an Eye brings a happy tear to mine. Awwwww.

I love well-done character pieces, and Driving Me Crazy by Patti Ellis is one of the best, most subtle Illya character stories I've read. Patti takes the all-American obsession with personal freedom and material possessions and juxtaposes it against Illya's socialist sensibilities. The end result is a delightful examination of one man's struggle to reconcile his ethics and world-view to the new society in which he now lives. The author's touch is light and the story is leavened with the same self-mocking awareness that permeates the show itself.

In Phoenix, Shay Sheridan has crafted a gorgeous portrait of a man haunted by a traumatic past, and of the partner who cares deeply enough to keep chipping away at the cracks that occasionally surface in an otherwise seamless exterior. Fabulously complex and rich in detail, this novel-length story offers excellent characterizations, a strong plot, a relationship that evolves and matures, clever dialogue and sex that melted me into my chair. And for those of you who, like me, miss references to Illya's nationality and heritage, that is a focus of this story. A story that made me laugh and cry and go all warm inside.

Nix has written a string of terrific short stories that I love, but I think perhaps her latest, Communism, may be my favorite. Napoleon shows his vulnerable side, and Illya offers his own special brand of comfort. Lovely, lovely. I'm still waiting for that novel-length story she's been teasing us with for months.

"The Gurnius Affair" is a wrenching fourth season episode that has inspired some truly excellent fanfiction. In the episode, Illya goes undercover and ends up having to brutally torture a captured Napoleon or risk both their lives and the mission. They survive and complete the mission - but how do they reconcile what happened to them here? Rosemary Callahan suggests one way they might handle the emotional fallout in The Post Gurnius Affair. It involves sex, but this is no simple comfort sex fic. This is raw, primal sex with all the jagged edges of their strong personalities and competitive natures coming into play. Not always an easy read. There are several sequels to this story, but unfortunately they are not (yet!) online.

Ghostwriter makes her MfU writing debut with The Importance of Driving, a delightful vignette that shows us a Napoleon and Illya who have been together for a long time but have lost none of their edge. Witty, layered dialogue and nice characterization. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I'll never be able to look at a leather coat again without thinking of Illya making love to Napoleon while wearing nothing but a worn black leather jacket, as he does in Cord Smithee's Leather. Guh. This one will leave you boneless and gasping, and not just from the incendiary sex. Unbelievably good characterization, descriptive details that satisfy every physical sense, and an emotional resonance that just plain hits the mark every time. These guys are real. Damn. Good. Writing.

Afternoons is one of those stories that starts off by scaring me. Illya has been wounded and Napoleon is angsting, terrified Illya is dying, trying to remember every little detail of their life together as a shield against his grief. Thankfully, Sensine does not leave them there. My favorite of her short stories.

The intimacy of seeing an unfamiliar and unguarded side of his partner affects Napoleon in an unexpected way in Two Men in a Boat, disturbing many of the certainties in his universe. The sea change in Napoleon's feelings is paralleled by an equally abrupt turn of the weather, and when Napoleon is swept overboard, nothing will ever be the same again - not on this holiday and certainly not in their lives. Di T weaves a touching, often humorous and occasionally heart-breaking tale of two men foundering for direction in the wake of these storms. The sequel, The Lonely Sea and the Sky, is equally well done and moving.

I can't even begin to categorize Meris' Empty Shoes, except to say that it's one of the most unique vignettes I've ever read. A most unusual glimpse of Napoleon, and incredibly touching. A lot of insight in just a few words.

Katya Baturinsky has written only two short MfU stories, more's the pity. I rec'd the first one last year, and here is her second effort. An elderly woman guards the street from her Window while pondering about her enigmatic neighbor and countryman. A lovely little character study, both of Illya and the point of view character.

A gen offering from N. L. Hayes, Expectations is a tightly written, action-packed and densely plotted story that delivers authentic Cold War flavor and settings. Napoleon comes to Berlin to pursue an investigation, and finds himself working with a surprisingly competent young Russian. While the story falls on the dry and intellectual side, I find this interpretation of the characters very plausible.

Shelved by Keelywolfe gives us a quiet domestic moment between partners that turns into something very significant in terms of both the past and future.

T. Gabrielle draws on the events of a second season episode to set the stage for her amazing The Children's Night Affair. Here we see Napoleon and Illya through Mr. Waverly's eyes as he considers their characters, their relationship, and their value both to UNCLE and himself in light of a suggestive innuendo.

When Illya goes off on a much-needed although unexpected vacation, can Napoleon be far behind? In Kellie Matthew's thoroughly delightful Safe Harbor, Illya's abrupt departure rouses Napoleon's possessive instincts, but his intrusion into Illya's holiday stirs up some long-buried feelings. The characterizations are strong and true, the sex is incendiary and this is just plain a well-written, 'feel good' story all the way around. I love this story; it left me one very happy reader.

The Louis Armstrong Affair by Veronica captures the fumbling awkwardness of having to live with the consequences of confessions made with no expectation of having to follow through on them. This thoroughly romantic tale follows Napoleon and Illya as they sort through and act on long-buried feelings. Beautiful language and imagery, spot-on characterizations and nicely balanced between action, humor, poignancy and sex.

Rain, being used for a greater purpose, keeping secrets and betrayal are recurring motifs in Lee the T's The Rainbow Affair. Napoleon and Illya are assigned to escort a defecting Thrush scientist to safety, but the mission is troubled from the start - by unspoken secrets and hidden agendas, by surprise ambushes and the revelation that the scientist is Illya's old friend. But there are also counterbalances: trust and truthful confessions, and a rainbow in the wake of endless rain. Subtle storytelling at its best.

Prolific zine author Jane Terry finally posted one of her stories online! Needs is an intense study of Napoleon's emotional state after he is captured and abused by Thrush. The first portion of the story is a difficult read, but hang on because there is a very definite purpose for Napoleon's suffering. The abuse strips away all of Napoleon's emotional safeguards until he is faced with certain fundamental truths of who he is and what he needs. One of those fundamental truths is realizing just how essential Illya is to him. A powerful story by a fine writer.

Happy holidays from Illya and Napoleon, who are nestled snug in their bed - but most definitely not sleeping!

Valentina's Madonna and Child is a touching story about a breakthrough gift, a breakthrough moment in a man's life, and a turning point in a relationship. Not slash, but the love these guys have for each other is obvious.

A spot-on holiday filk. Oh Waverly! from Sabine.

Not quite a holiday story, but Nyssa gives us lots of snow in her delightful The Winter Wonderland Affair. She also gives us power outages, some trickery to give the boys a bit of private time, terrific dialogue, an interesting bet, hot sex and wonderful characterizations.

Illya learns a thing or two about Napoleon's vulnerabilities and motivations when they share a Christmas Eve tradition in C.W. Walker's The Best Revenge. I love their unfaltering sense of purpose, and how the details of the reality of their lives with UNCLE are woven into the fabric of the story.

What do a famous toy store and Christmas bears have to do with Napoleon and Illya's professional and personal partnership? Everything, according to Rari's gentle, loving and funny The FAO Schwartz Affair.

Lee the T's Oubliette may not start out looking like a Christmas story, but trust me, it is. This long and incredibly angsty story has Illya grappling with Napoleon's reported death, bringing all his wits and tenacity to bear as he tries to unravel the contradictions and deal with his own grief.

I'm in the mood for holiday-themed fic this week...

A Visit from St. Nick-ovetch from Rose Burkette definitely put me in the holiday spirit.

Anybody who doesn't like the Grinch must be, well, grinchy. Ditto for Nickovetch's How the Thrush Stole Christmas, a laugh-out-loud parody of Dr. Seuss' classic.

Loretta Ross' The Away in a Manger Affair is unabashedly sentimental and offers a miracle-of-the-season, but it still brought a lump to my throat, thanks to Illya's devotion to Napoleon.

Another holiday offering! In Linda White's The Merry Christmas to All Affair, Napoleon and Illya stumble upon an unusual haven while running from THRUSH on Christmas Eve. Nice mixture of humor, action and good characterization.

And now for something non-holidayish. Last week I rec'd a slashy alternative version of "The Nowhere Affair" episode, and today I'm rec'ing a gorgeous post-episode story, Twisted Ties by Veronica. Mara and Napoleon are an item when the story opens, but there's always Illya's presence to consider... A well-crafted tale with sympathy for all three people caught up in an unfortunate triangle, which happily resolves just the way it should.

Christmas is coming, and what better way to celebrate than with our favorite secret agents. Pigeon's Diversities of Gifts is a sweet glimpse into a private, comfortable (if somewhat Dickensian) moment between new partners on their way to becoming friends.

Kitty Fisher's Camera Obscura is all about Napoleon's quest for the perfect evening with Illya. An established relationship story with a twist and very very hot for all its deliberate seduction and confusing POV. Just go with the flow - you'll be glad you did.

Although there is some sweetness to The Sweeter Than Honey Affair, Shelley Wright does a good job holding the sentiment to a minimum. It's a very hot little PWP, but it isn't just about sex, but about all the things we bring to sex, like vulnerability, trust and affection.

The episode "The Nowhere Affair" is a gen/het fan favorite because of the relationship between Napoleon and the female lead. Personally, I get a kick out of Remember When, Theresa Kyle's slashy version of this episode.

Since I seem to be in the mood for sweet and sexy hotness at the moment, who better to rec than Keelywolfe? Her delightful Call Me Sweetheart sure fills the bill.

Cliché is a first MfU fic from Shayheyred (better known as Shay), and she turns a few of those clichés on their ears. It's a bitter, angry little tale, but well done and all too plausible a scenario. And at least Napoleon has hope.

Napoleon and Illya have stepped right out of the television screen and into a fabulously characterized story, The Arrangement, by Nataliya. Illya has a problem in this story and Napoleon, concerned for his partner's welfare, comes up with what he thinks is the perfect solution. Of course, things aren't always as simple as they look at first... This story offers a nice serving of Napoleon angst, along with Nat's signature witty dialogue, a truly hilarious argument that had me rolling on the floor laughing, and sizzling sex. Even better, Nat has a talent for revealing authentic emotion without ever losing the tough-guy personas. Through the course of the story they make mistakes, deal with fear, anger and confusion, learn and grow, and reach for their potential. A great read.

Another terrific story by a talented storyteller: The Better Gadget Affair by Rari. It's her version of how Illya and Napoleon met, and it's a thoroughly exciting, fun ride all the way! Illya's technical expertise is taken to the ultimate as he plys Napoleon with 'better gadgets' and unofficial assistance. They become friends and lovers before partners, and this version makes so much sense. Lots of action and clever gadgets, terrific and memorable dialogue, good characterizations and hot sex. Yum.

A moment of revelation and decision, all rolled into one. Epiphania by Aithine and Veronica. Napoleon and Illya can't deny what they are to one another.

In Fit to be Tied by Graculus, Napoleon's subconscious libido plays tricks with his body and manipulative mechanisms, and Illya gets a little annoyed with his partner's inconsistent behavior. Logical scientist that he is, Illya decides to test his hypothesis through a series of semi-controlled tests and a process of elimination. In the end, they're both grateful for his persistence. It's great fun to watch them both unravel within themselves at certain points, and barely show it on the outside.

It's a pity Ariadne doesn't seem to be writing in this fandom anymore. The Key is a long and lovely depiction of a crisis besetting Napoleon and Illya's partnership. The crisis comes in the form of an assignment: find and eliminate a rogue UNCLE agent, an agent who also happens to be Napoleon's ex-lover. Napoleon's unresolved feelings toward his ex-lover threaten not only his partnership with Illya but their newly burgeoning romantic feelings as well. Plenty of action but heavier on the psychology, with a very satisfying resolution.

With Kings from Lee the T offers a wonderful glimpse into Napoleon's head. He fears he has held his tongue too long and through caution has lost the one thing he desires most in the world. His internal voice has a nice irreverence and self-deprecating humor - and damn him, he misses the clues Illya feeds him along with pears. Moderate angst ensues, but it's lovely, and Illya fixes everything in the end.

There's something about stories set in Paris that are irresistible. And romantic. Add a mysterious woman from Illya's past, mix in some unexpected confidences, edgy dialogue and mind-blowing sex, and you have "The Paris Nocturne Affair". My oh my, that Veronica can write!

Sorting Things Out by Jackie Thomas is outrageously sentimental and angsty, but it's the kind of sentiment I like. A sweet, touching tale about missed opportunities and unexpected reprieves.

Nataliya writes stuff that just plain pushes my buttons. Refuge is a beautifully evocative, subtle portrait of why Illya and Napoleon are so good together.

This must be the week for rec'ing atypical fic. Mona Ramsey's The Matter of Control Affair is a kinky, incredibly hot PWP.

Not so much sentimental as illuminating, Kate Drummond's Faded Past shows us how an ordinary moment can be transformed by a chance connection to the past.

Today's gen recommendation is C.W. Walker's The St. Christopher Affair. Part of her St. Crispin's universe, this story shows Napoleon and Illya's seamless working relationship. I think this is the best story in the series, thanks to the mostly even-handed treatment of the guys. Plot/action heavy, but there are some very sweet character moments as well.

Keelywolfe asks the most interesting question in Expectations. When is a virgin not a virgin?

Another vignette that carries a punch, although not a humorous one this time. After Querido by Linda White is a surprisingly gentle glimpse into the private side of a partnership that refuses to recognize boundaries.

The Still the Same Affair by Loretta Ross sets up a poignant reunion between Napoleon and a long-lost Illya who is feeling more than a little displaced. Lovely characterizations and gorgeous moments between the two partners.

While this isn't exactly a partnership story, The Vodka Affair by PJ Howard offers a very unusual and entertaining view of Illya's capabilities and personality. On a mission-gone-wrong, Mark Slate begins to understand why Napoleon appreciates his partner so much.

Scheherazade by Lee the T is the kind of story that makes this reader feel humble. Not just because the writing is outstanding, but because it exemplifies the comprehensive nature of true partnership. This story transcends genre; it's about two men devoted to each other and how their relationship affects others. Just plain gorgeous. I cry every time I read this one.

We get a lovely glimpse of an intimate moment between Napoleon and Illya in The Key to Christmas by Nicole D'Annais. Good banter, tender sentiments and excellent characterizations. A beautiful vignette.

I love Clare Chew's Weapon of Choice. We have a slightly manipulative and frustrated Napoleon and a more-than-slightly confused Illya at odds with each other for much of the story. Snarky banter, some tense moments, hot sex and real insight into the guys' headspace. This is a sequel to Durian Dreaming, which I also recommend. You don't have to read the first story to enjoy "Weapon", but it would help to understand what's driving the tension between Illya and Napoleon.

A gen story about two men that opens with the marriage vows from the Book of Common Prayer? Partners by Pat Foley is another story that transcends genre. The abrupt switching between three different time settings takes a little getting used to, but the incredibly strong bond between Illya and Napoleon is the payoff for hanging on. Long and wonderful story.

Here's a vignette that carries a very big and funny kick. Illya's idea of payback puts Napoleon in a most uncomfortable position in 1-900-Napoleon by Nickovetch.

Nyssa does it again in Room Temperature, another short angsty piece, this one about a first time. I would've been unhappy with the ending if I didn't know what lies ahead in their future.

My favorite story is The Family Affair by Nataliya. Illya and Napoleon are secure in a well-established relationship but facing what seem like two unrelated issues that will deeply affect their future together. They're very mature, very equal, and very committed to each other. Great dialogue, subtle humor, hot sex and a wonderful beach scene. The ending is a bit improbable and I got distracted by a minor character's long scene, but those are small flaws in an otherwise terrific story. Contains my absolute favorite dialogue exchange ever.

Rari's The Let's Get Friendly Affair puts Napoleon and Illya in a situation where they can't help but realize what's lacking in their own relationship. I particularly like the first chapter or two, where Illya unwillingly uses his insights into Napoleon's character to disturb the sleeping attraction between them, and Napoleon's jealousy in later chapters is very sweet. Rari writes sex that is as emotionally significant as it is physically hot, too.

It's a little difficult to get into the third person present tense pov of Chiaroscuro by Katya, but this piece is worth the effort. Napoleon and Illya are at a crossroads in their relationship. The backstory that brought them to this point is unclear, but it is the future that concerns them now. There's a great 'Illya with knife' bit that leavens the building tension and an absolutely beautiful tag dialogue exchange.

One of the strangest story titles I've ever run across, but a must read! The Metamorphosis of Sexually Explicit Paper Cranes by Keelywolfe combines a broken ankle, Playboy, origami, and phone sex into an amazingly satisfying whole.

Lots of things get slammed in The Whiffenpoof Affair by Astrid Keynes, like the CIA, Yale, New Haven and the US educational system, but the dialogue is snappy and snarky, the jokes pile up, and the general mood is 'theater of the insane'. No sex, but the guys are tough, smart and equal. I liked it.

Nyssa writes incredibly angsty mood pieces. One More for the Road is short but powerful. The passage of time affects us all.

The Fusion Affair is Dorinda's only MfU fic, but it's definitely a winner. It's early days for Illya and Napoleon's partnership, and Napoleon is trying to categorize how he sees (and feels about) Illya. A gorgeous first-time story.

A rather unusual story about Illya's deeply held loyalty to Mother Russia and how that conflicts with his feelings toward Napoleon. In Two Masters by Veinglory, Illya comes across as very foreign and detached, both in language and attitude. For a time I feared the story might have a bitterly unhappy ending, but instead it is hopeful.

Another piece by Nataliya: Man With a Gun. Short and sexy, with an image that has really stayed with me.