Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying (and dying and dying) for here.
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Torchwood fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.
You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
Authors and Websites
- Recommended by Kristee
- Vetted recommendations for "as broad a spectrum of works as possible" including fiction, vids, art and meta
- Organised by tags, reccer, genre, length, etc.
- Recommended by Kristee
- Over 1,500 Torchwood story recs arranged by pairing and genre
- Recommended by Joan
- An AU series that originated from a series of Jack/Ianto fics (Short Stories) and expanded from there. Now in two sections: a primarily Jack/Ianto collection of fics with numerous crossovers to other shows and a collection of future fic set many centuries afterwards that is the work of both Helen Pattskyn and Sidlerocks. It captures the humour and themes of Torchwood extremely well while branching out from on the original 'verse at the same time.
MiladyDragon's
Dragon-Verse
- Recommended by Catty
- Fascinating AU series in which Ianto is secretly an immortal dragon. Mainly Janto, with other side-pairings. There is some character-bashing, though, especially on Gwen.
Innocence Bound by Danse Macabre
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Comments: Ianto is turned into a child with Jack as his guardian.
To The Sticking Place by Zephyras
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Comments: An alternate universe where Ianto was an agent instead of an archies at Torchwood One.
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Warning: Bullying
- Comments: An alternate universe where Ianto transferred from Torchwood One to Three instead of joining when Torchwood One was destroyed.
Pocket Watch Boy by Mhalachai
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Warning: Bullying
- Comments: An alternate universe where Ianto is a time lord.
Lost Inside by Xenon
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Comments: This fic expertly uses Gwen's status as the Naive Newcomer by having her be the POV character to explore the Janto relationship and their separate characters.
The Waters and the Wild by soera
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Warnings: Alternate canon; violent imagery; torture; implications of slavery and Stockholm Syndrome; faerie!Ianto
- Comments: After the encounter with faeries of Small Worlds torchwood caught the eye of another type of faerie, and he's rather intrigued by Jack.
Ianto Jones Child Of The Rift by tstul006
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Comments: The author claims this is a “very long Co E Fix it” but that doesn't even begin to cover this story. It's long, well-plotted and unlike other fix-its, isn't just written to “correct” something but is a whole alternate universe with rules, characters and plausible reasons (though alien) for this world differences. I like the few original characters so much I shipped them with canon characters and I am one of the readers who never likes OC’s much less with them paired with canon characters.
"What's Wrong With the Captain?" by estelgreenleaf
- Recommended by Its-Janto-Time
- Status: Complete
- "Synopsis": Jack falls ill, and the Torchwood team is left to take care of him.
- "Comments": This story does have a bit of Janto romance, but it's mostly the team trying to nurse Jack back to health. It's shaping up to be a really good story. This author actually has a decent amount of Torchwood stories, but in my opinion, this is the best, but do check those out as well.
Second Star to the Right by SnarkyHunter
- Recommended by FoolofaTook
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: The Tenth Doctor rescues Ianto Jones from the basements of Canary Wharf and takes him on as a companion. Follows in episode format, starting from the end of Doomsday.
- Comments: Lighthearted overall with snarky!Ianto at his finest and plenty of banter, but well-characterized and a well-rounded emotional range. Eventual Jack/Ianto to follow Jack's appearance in Utopia. Downplays the unrequited Martha/Ten in favor of Ianto/Ten/Martha friendship.
- Seconded by Siberian Iris
Second City Torchwood by Sam the Storyteller. (AU)
- Recommended by Lavanya Six
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: When Mayor Daley's special investigation unit, Torchwood, steals Chicago PD Officer Gwen Cooper's crime scene, she decides to find out everything she can about them. But she may get more than she bargained for when Captain Harkness — who isn't even American! — sends his errand boy Ian to scare her off.
- Comments: What if Torchwood were an American primetime TV show? A very meta fanfic, predicated on the idea that neither the original Torchwood nor Doctor Who exist in this universe; it is speculation about how Torchwood would be handled by an American network, albeit an American network with a reasonably intelligent producer at the helm.
- Seconded by Cinna The Poet: One of the most unique fanfics I've ever read. Fantastic.
- It has a sequel too, which can be found on the author's masterlist/
A_Tree_Grows_in_Cardiff by someinstant
- Recommended by Goodwrench
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "Better get going, sir," Ianto said. "You've a tree to catch, after all."
- Comments: An unusually well-written story and a very funny alien encounter.
And Seven For A Secret by Aeshna
- Recommended by Voila Viola
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: If you are reading this then I am dead, and with my death dies a promise I made a long, long time ago... When Ben Haldane is left a cryptic note in his grandfather's will, it leads him to a story far stranger than he could ever have imagined.
- Comments: 1940s Torchwood. This is an excellent action-oriented story that is evocative of WWII films like The Dirty Dozen. Jack Harkness goes undercover to investigate alien activity in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp. There are many original characters here, and they are written as interesting, well-rounded people. Still, the only Torchwood native here is Jack, so if that turns you off, this may not be the story for you. While this is very much Jack's story, it's told entirely through an outsider's perspective, taking the POV of both a WWII soldier and his grandson. Highly recommended.
"Countdown to Oblivion" by Madness Mantra
- Recommended by deepcheese
- Status: Complete
- "Synopsis": It was inevitable, really, that it would come to this. Because there's only so much a man can take before he breaks. Dark AU Oneshot
- "Comments" A short, but very powerful fic that examines a terrifyingly logical conclusion of Jacks existence and the events that led up to it. Dark, depressing, and heartbreaking- made all the worse by just how believable it is.
Karma by Quiet-Time
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper/Jack Harkness (onesided), Rhys Williams/Gwen Cooper (past), Esther Drummond/Jack Harkness (onesided)
- Comments: Gwen gave up Rhys for Jack as she watches him flirt with Esther she reflects on her unrequited feels and Jacks real feelings for Ianto. (This has the right amount of angst and made me like Gwen without changing her character from canon which is crazy hard to do so I recommend this. It's short but powerful)
Between John And A Hard Place by JolinarJackson
- Recommended by Pistols At Dawn
- Status: One-shot
- Synopsis: Ianto shifted his position and something hard dug into his thigh. "Dear God." John answered, "It's my gun, I swear."
John and Ianto are stuck in an alien pod for several hours. Hilarity Ensues. - Comments: Short, incredibly funny, very in-character. Just read it.
The Time Traveler's Daughter by pop-off-valve
- Recommended by rioludoodle
- Status: One-shot, complete
- Synopsis: Alice is used to her father's odd appearances. He never approaches her, she never approaches him. He just watches her from a distance. She ignores him. *SPOILERS for Co E*
- Comments: A beautiful, evocative story about Jack and Alice's bittersweet relationship as it develops over the course of her lifetime and future millenia besides. It's written chronologically from Alice's point of view, but there's just enough information to chart the same events from Jack's perspective. I'm hard-pressed to name any fanfic more poignant.
Don't Let Go by Sigyn
- Recommended by fruitstripegum
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Jack has a repaired vortex manipulator, a syringe full of nanogenes, and finally a chance to bring Ianto back from the dead. Sounds so easy, doesn't it.
Jaded Golden Threads by Jaded.
- Recommended by HG131
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto/Dawn, hints of Spike/Xander
- Synopsis: What happens when the Buffyverse and the Whoniverse cross over? This does. Dawn, Jack and Ianto centric... and anything more would be a spoiler.
- Tags: Some slash, mostly implied. Massively Multiplayer Crossover later on, involving Bones, Castle, Glee, Charmed, and several others.
Add Review"The Adventures of Jaunty Jones" by HKLBRY
- Recommended by: CCGFTW
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Ianto Jones finds unlikely friends outside of Torchwood, but what happens when a rift object threatens to topple the tea boy's delicate balancing act?
- Comments: Wonderfully written from Ianto's point of view, and the author did a great job of taking a somewhat cracky premise and spinning it into this amazing fic! It has a great range of emotion, from laugh out loud funny, to tear-wrenchingly sad, to ridiculously hot,
The Theory of Two Centres by Sam the Storyteller. (slash)
- Recommended by Lavanya Six and seconded tons by godborn (also seconded by onesmallpigeon- Amazing!)
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Ianto Jones woke up in a bed that wasn't his, in a flat that wasn't his, wearing clothing that definitely wasn't his. Post-S2, memory-loss.
The Day I Stopped Dreaming by x-Athenea-x. (slash)
- Recommended by Galadriel 1010
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Torchwood action mixed with tortured stream of consciousness. X-Athenea-x takes us inside Ianto's mind in the aftermath of Cyberwoman and during his suspension as he struggles to come to terms with what has happened and what he feels and as he tries to make amends.
Get Loved, Make More, Try To Stay Alive by dsudis. (slash)
- Recommended by godborn and seconded hard by jaimie2i
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Ianto get pregnant with Jack's child and is forced to place it in stasis. Later, Ianto (with the help of The Doctor) is time traveled several hundred years in the future to meet his lover and son.
Season Three Scriptverse by Obfuscate.
- Recommended by Troper Anon
- Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
- Pairings: Various over the course of the season, but starting with Season 2 canon
- Synopsis: Written before "Children of Earth," this fic is an AU written in the form of TV scripts for the series. It has 13 "episodes," each of which have a self-contained plot within a season-long arc, just like the show.
Everthing That Rises Must Converge series by Teachwriteslash
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Dormant
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Prior to the battle of Canary Wharf Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones' paths cross and they embark on a journey neither of them could have been prepared for.
- Note from the Author: "Sept 10, 2010: The links on some posts on this master list currently lead to flocked LJ entries. If you wish to read a post that is flocked, you can find the parallel post at DW by date and comment on those posts. I will be updating links over the next few months. Thank you for your patience."
- The links to works on the list by other authors work fine. It's just the ones by Teacherwriteslash that don't work.
- Links to the flocked fics on Teacherwriteslash's Dreamwidth account. Some lead to the individual stories, but most - mainly for the multi-part stories - lead to the page in the author's archive they appear on.
- Want, Need, and Things in Between
- Interlude - Home Healthcare
- Interlude - Home for the Holidays
- Interlude - Christmas Gift
- Interlude - Paris Excursion: Day 1, 2, Day 3, and Day 4
- Learning to Ask
- Forget Me Not, Memories are Made of This, and Morning Memories
- The Life You Save May Be Your Own, Prologue - Part 2/20 and Part 3 - Epilogue
- Interlude - Never Alone
- How High a Cost, Prologue - Part 11 and Parts 12/20 - 20/20
- Jones Protocol, Part 1 - Epilogue
- Marking Territory, Parts 1/3 - 3/3
- Homecoming and With the Dawn
- Survival Insticnt and Soothe the Savage Beast
- Appropriate Uses for Captain Jack Harkness, Parts 1/5 - 5/5
- Training Day, Parts 1/5 - 5/5 and Epilogue Parts 1 - 5
- The Games We Play, Parts 1/3 - 3/3
- Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Parts 1 - 3, Parts 4 - 25, Parts 26 - 52, Parts 53 - 87, and Part 88 - Epilogue
- Resolutions, Parts 1 - 17, Parts 18 - 27, and Parts 28 - Epilogue
- Realisations
- Multiplicity, Parts 1/3 - 3/3
- Objects in Motion
- The links to works on the list by other authors work fine. It's just the ones by Teacherwriteslash that don't work.
Shades Of Ianto by Sarcastic Chick
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto, past Ianto/Others
- Synopsis: Ianto is much more than just a teaboy.
The Windhovers by Sarcastic Chick
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Ianto Jones is not going crazy, but even he can't begin to fathom what is going on. . .
Proof Of Your Existence by Sarcastic Chick
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: "Can you offer me proof of your existence? How can you? When neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is."
- Tags: What Measure Is a Non-Human?.
Resonating Throughout Time by Gracie Musica
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: Sometimes your other half turns up in unexpected places. For Jack Harkness, it turned up millennia before he was even born.
Intersecting Geodesics by Nancy Brown
- Recommended By: Nadilune
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto, minor Jack/John Hart
- Synopsis: Stuck in the wrong time with a Jack who hasn't met him yet, all Ianto really wants is a way home. Part of the Intersections series. Post COE.
The Roots of the Quadratic by Nancy Brown
- Recommended By: Nadilune
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Alice Carter/Jenny (from Doctor Who)
- Synopsis: Jack and Ianto discover they can only outrun old sins for so long. Sequel to Intersecting Geodesics.
Game, Sutekh, and Match by Valderys
- Recommended by: pretzellogic
- Status: Complete
- Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Jack/John, and John/Ianto
- Synopsis: When Jack is attacked and pieces of him are scattered around the world, he can rely on Ianto to bring him home. But can Ianto rely on John? His vortex manipulator is essential to the mission, but that's no guarantee...
- Tags: Some slash but the fic's rated Teen so I the stuff heavier than kisses is implied/stated.
- Comments: Post Series 2 pre-Co E. An interesting portrayal of John and Ianto on their feelings and relationship with Jack. A lot of character exploration that allows for Ianto and John to develop or at the very least flesh out.
Crossover
Damage Control by Bookkeeper The
- Crossover with Doctor Who
- Recommended by IridescentIndividual
- Status: Completed, with two completed sequels.
- Synopsis: The Tenth Doctor shows up at the Torchwood Hub after a nasty experience in a testing facility. As it is, this one is only the latest in a long line, and Jack and his team (and Martha) are left to deal with the fallout as the Doctor finally hits his breaking point. Sequel is Inertia. Set after "Voyage of the Damned" for Doctor Who and "Sleeper" for Torchwood.
- Comments: Pretty genuinely heartbreaking, and incredibly well-written. Not too much plot (although Inertia has an excellent one), but so totally worth reading. The author is an amazing writer.
The Death Note Discovery by KaibaGirl007
- Crossover with Death Note
- Recommended by feral
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Jack/Ianto
- Synopsis: An unnamed Shinigami drops a Death Note in Cardiff.
Owen: Congratulations, you've found a book that belongs to an Emo.
- Comments: Featuring the cast of Torchwood (playing in the Death Note sandbox.) The story follows Torchwood canon and there is now a one-shot sequel.
Endurance by Adrian Tullberg
- Crossover with Doctor Who
- Recommended by: Brona19, Kathryn Shadow
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: (spoilers for Miracle Day) The last old man on Earth stared out at the screen towards the viewer.
- Comments: A wonderfully well-written piece of fiction and the return of an old foe.
For Captain and Cardiff by blackhemlock
- Crossover with Doctor Who
- Recommended by Supernova 92
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "At midnight, a nationwide security alert was sent out… Torchwood London, demands all agencies' cooperation in issuing an arrest warrant for Ianto Merric Jones, 24, of Cardiff." Torchwood Three's Archivist has gone rogue. But, he does have a very good reason, and he looks stunning in his new suit. Torchwood/Doctor Who crossover.
- Comments: A stunning piece of drama and suspense. Fantastic characterizations and a very original plot. Complete with over 47500 words. Ianto fans will love it.
The Justice League Of Cardiff Is A Stupid Name by Sam_Storyteller
- Crossover with The DCU
- Recommended By: Studious Jones
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Superman is evil and Batman wants to know why Torchwood's agents don't wear capes.
- Comments: Sam is a master of humor. The DC Comics men didn't know what they were dealing with.
The Magic of Torchwood by Bella the Strange
- posted here
- Crossover with Harry Potter
- Recommended by Seiryuu. Seconded by The Enmity Of Ages 1994. Thirded by Caellach Tiger Eye and EMY 3 K. Fourthed by Hinn Raven. Fifthed by Lady Of Procrastination.
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: The Torchwood team have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Set between Adam and Reset. Rated T because of Jack Harkness, swearing, mature themes, slash etc... it's Torchwood!
- Comments: An amazing piece of work that age-regresses the Torchwood team and sends them to Hogwarts at the beginning of Harry's third year. Story takes place from there onwards and masterfully inserts Torchwood during the years and develops pre-existing minor characters as well as introducing rounded ones.
- I heartily agree. Seriously, I bloody love this fic. It takes all the best elements of Torchwood and integrates them into the Potterverse perfectly without feeling out of place (mostly by adjusting the tone of both series to somewhere in the middle, but without being forced). The characterisation is altogether very strong and consistent, and the so-called "bashing" of Ron isn't quite as bad as it sounds - it's more a highlighting of his character flaws compared to the other main HP cast and giving him time to steadily grow out of them (which started when Book Five was reached). It's really at worse Author Tract against Rowling for her own narrative faults (the only thing Ron's being bashed for is fervently hating on Slytherins and nothing else, which as Hermione notes in a later chapter of the fic isn't a good thing). On a lighter note, there's quite some brilliant humour in there, and some unexpectedly heartwarming moments which are mostly a result of the team's presence. Even better, while the changes do push the story positively (for the most part), the TW team aren't in
Fixer Sue territory at all and there's sufficient tension and conflict to go around. This fic is a must-read for TW and HP fans everywhere. - Thirded. This is brilliant. The Torchwood characters are cleverly interwoven with the Potter-verse. Fair warning, though, there's a lot of Ron-bashing. It's only really bashing one character flaw, but it gets mentioned again and again and again every chapter. Ron can't seem to go a chapter without him being hated for it. Despite dismissive comments, "the "Ron-bashing" is more serious than people are making it out to be. Honestly, it gets to the point where one just wishes the writer would give him character-development, rather than keep mentioning how prejudiced Ron is. If Draco, of all people, can get enough character development to where he's sympathetic, then it becomes even more baffling that Ron's been completely ignored for a hundred chapters. Aside from the Ron issue, though, this story continues to be captivating and engaging. - EMY 3 K
- #4 agreeing. This story is excellent, the characters are great and in-character (with the exception of the aforementioned Ron problem, but it has been getting better in the newest chapters), and the plot, which is great, is mixed with hilarious moments. Plenty of shipper moments too. (Jack/Ianto mostly, but there are others.) From the very beginning, this story was interesting, and it's only getting better. Seeing the Torchwood Team hanging around Hogwarts and making friends with the inhabitants of the magical world is both amusing and easily imaginable. Sirius and the Weasley Twins in particular are brilliant. Constant updates make it even better. Definitely a necessary read.
- #5 chiming in. Beyond the compelling writing, excellent characterization (apart from the above-mentioned exception), and high overall entertainment value, this fic manages to avoid many of the pitfalls frequently associated with crossover and Harry Potter fanfiction. Breaks from canon follow logically from the presence and interference of the Torchwood team. The altered portrayal of Draco later in the fic, for example, has more to do with Jack's influence than any Draco in Leather Pants mentality. First-years act like miniature adults because they are. The Torchwood team think of and do things that Harry Potter characters don't because of their experience, rather than the Sueishness that usually causes such behavior. What most Harry Potter fics do badly, this one does well.
- I heartily agree. Seriously, I bloody love this fic. It takes all the best elements of Torchwood and integrates them into the Potterverse perfectly without feeling out of place (mostly by adjusting the tone of both series to somewhere in the middle, but without being forced). The characterisation is altogether very strong and consistent, and the so-called "bashing" of Ron isn't quite as bad as it sounds - it's more a highlighting of his character flaws compared to the other main HP cast and giving him time to steadily grow out of them (which started when Book Five was reached). It's really at worse Author Tract against Rowling for her own narrative faults (the only thing Ron's being bashed for is fervently hating on Slytherins and nothing else, which as Hermione notes in a later chapter of the fic isn't a good thing). On a lighter note, there's quite some brilliant humour in there, and some unexpectedly heartwarming moments which are mostly a result of the team's presence. Even better, while the changes do push the story positively (for the most part), the TW team aren't in
Of Rifts and Vampires by enigma-kar.
- Crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Recommended by HG131
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover where Spike and John Hart meet and then the entire Torchwood team meet the duo. They then bash Twilight and it's hack writer and go out for drinks.
- Comments: This is actually funny. It's also short so just read it.
Unlocking Torchwood by Jaded
- Crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Recommended by HG131
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Dawn watches all of Torchwood with Andrew... in Cardiff... on a Tuesday. Dawn promptly finds herself right outside of Torchwood, being questioned by Torchwood.
- Comments: I just want to say, this fic is really funny. The characters are well written and the interactions are believable.
When a Grim Reaper Calls by cjulina.
- Crossover with Dead Like Me
- Recommended by HG131
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Jack, after dying 9 times in a row in a few minutes, gets a visit from Rube. What follows is awesome, funny, and ironic.
- Comments: If you're a fan of Dead Like Me and Torchwood, you'll love this crossover.
10-Things-Ianto-Jones-Learnt by emeralf-sorceress
- Crossover with ''Dr Who”
- Recommended by Night Robin
- Status: Complete
- Comments: “10 Things Ianto Jones Learnt After Meeting Rose Tyler. Set Pre Fragments so everyone's alive. Set Post Doomsday, Pre-Season 4 for Doctor Who.” A cute friendship fic. This is a friendship that totally worked but I would have never would have thought of till I read this.
The Fury of a Storm by wildforce71
- Crossover with The Sarah Jane Adventures
- Recommended by Meek Gazelle
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: The 456 affected every child younger than puberty. Luke Smith was two. His knowledge draws Torchwood to join with Team Sarah Jane in a battle for Earth's children.
- Comments: AU of Children of Earth in which the Bannerman Road Gang join Torchwood in combating the 456. Both sides of the crossover contain just the right amounts of optimism and cynicism between them to keep the story believable.
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