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[[WMG:Authors, and Websites]]
[[folder:Authors and Websites]]
[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=222466 Best at Everything]]
* Recommended by: ADHD_Pyro, @/USABobcat
* Synopsis: Shepard recruited the best in the universe for his campaign against the Collectors. This includes...
** [=ADHD_Pyro=]: From the twisted minds over at Website/SpaceBattlesDotCom comes a veritable cornucopia of crossovers with everything imaginable. In particular, their fusion of [=ME2=] with Metal Gear Solid is incredibly well done.
** @/MaskedAndDangerous: As one of the writers on this thread, I can die happy now knowing something I contributed to got a recommendation on this site.
** @/MetaSkipper : A good thread for a good laugh. Appears to be slow to update, sadly.
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[[http://biowarebang.livejournal.com/tag/canon%3A%20mass%20effect The Bioware Big Bang]]
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* Section of ''Mass Effect'' Fanart and Fanfic from the Bioware Big Bang Challenge.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2568882/Chi-Kyoku Chi Kyoku]]
* Recommended by: @/{{Murus}}
* ''Synopsis'': A set of five loosely related stories, the last of which is unfortunately a [[DeadFic dead fic]]. F!Shepard/Garrus [[{{Shipping}} ship-fics]].
** EDIT: DeadFic no more! Chi Kyoku is risen, and actively writing once again.
* ''Comments'': @/{{Murus}}: These are distinctly relationship-oriented fics written by a high-schooler (at the time). Normally, that would be a big flashing sign for me to go read something else, avoiding this in a wide circle. But I didn't... and Chi Kyoku ended up being one of those people who are a shining example on why a book shouldn't be judged by its cover. For this is not some immature horror show. What we have here is a set of wonderful, well-written stories that approach their subject with subtlety and maturity. The Garrus/Fem!Shep relationship is layered, develops slowly (in a good sense) and, above all, feels real. Also, there isn't much action... yet I didn't mind that at all. Considering my usual interests, preferences and avoidances when it comes to fanfiction, that speaks volumes of just how good Chi Kyoku's work is. Go now, and read.
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[[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/1109816/1 If You Were Commander Shepard]]
* Recommended by: @/{{Meshakhad}}
* A thread consisting of people writing their own dialogue for ''Mass Effect''. Runs the gamut from lampshading plot holes to creating moments of pure awesome. Not all are good, but many are excellent.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/396561/Lady-Alila Lady Alila]]
* Recommended by: Meimay.
* She focuses on Femshep/Garrus but at the same time love to explore the "what if"s from all 3 games: what if Garrus decided to tag along in the Omega DLC, what if the clone managed to replace Shepard and fooled her crew in the Citadel DLC, how much affect Mindoir really had on Shepard and the likes. Well-written action scenes, good characterizations, heart-warming and well-placed romances, plots twists and intense cliff-hangers to make you want more. This author's fics are a must read.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3873840/LogicalPremise LogicalPremise]]
* Recommended by: [=KhaosKyuubi=], [=RapidR3DR=], [=Luppo564=], [=Katkiller-V=]
* Author of the masterfully written "Of Sheep and Battle Chicken" fanfiction and the AU surrounding it. In addition to the fic itself, as well as the planned and, according to the author, outlined sequels, this Author has written numerous pieces of work that help to flesh out the world and the characters therein. Reading them is not necessary to enjoy the main work, but it will enhance the experience. As for the fic itself it is nothing short of a masterpiece. While it is certainly darker than the source material it is by no means GrimDark for the sake of being GrimDark, and it all feels very fleshed out and organic. The AU contains several OCs that, while important to the plot, do not play a major role in it and do not in any way, shape or form eclipse the main protagonists. Plus it includes plenty of both dark, and not-so-dark humor in addition to tense and tightly-written action and tender and heartwarming moments.
* Seconded , this guy is incredible, he's basically re-written the entire backstory and setting of ''Mass Effect'' with hints of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' and Shadowrun, without lots of blatant references. I really recommend the Cerberus Files, a complete document on the histories and militarys of the asari and salarians.
* Thirded. This is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm not even a fan of pairing with Liara. Or asari in general. The world for this fic is incredibly fleshed out- seriously, the author has several entire fics acting as supporting documents for the universe, that he's pretty much made free to use.
* Fourthed. Starts mildly AU and just runs from there, and basically takes anything boring, lame, or unexplained about mass effect and spins one-off sentences and characters that are brought up once as a joke in the game into vital OC's who are integral to the plot in brilliant ways. Plus, the author is one of the fanfiction authors I've seen who most understands the importance of editing and is a good writer to boot.
** [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/OfSheepAndBattleChicken The OSABC series now has a tropes page]].
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[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/3373401/Melaradark Melaradark]]
* Recommended by: @/ZhenraZeyro
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[[http://skoolmunkee.tumblr.com/ Munkeestuff]]
* Recommended by: Firebert
* Tumblr that features some hilarious drawings featuring Javik. Warning: Contains ''ME 3'' spoilers.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2407457/ RaeDMagdon]]
* The writer who singlehandedly created the Aria/Tevos ship, and then proceeded to run with it in stories that span multiple generations, featuring excellent characterization and lots stupidly well written erotica. Also available on [[http://raedmagdon.tumblr.com/ tumblr]] and [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/RaeDMagdon/works Ao3]]!
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[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1556242/sinvraal Sinvraal]]
* Recommended by: @/EchoGarrote, Damsel of Distress, Spark Moon, Universitas, Joysweeper, Estelindis, @/LavanyaSix
* Writer of the excellent Iunctio fic, mentioned below, as well as the Wrex fic also under her name. She also has written several more fic expanding her own version of the ''Mass Effect'' universe. Some fluff, an excellent story that happened between the two games that features Cerberus as the antagonists. She has recently finished writing her fic for the sequel called Exitus, which has the same superior quality of Inuctio, including a POV from [[spoiler: Legion]] that's unique, in character, and brilliant.
** Spark Moon: Indeed. 'Exitus' is especially remarkable, as it handles elements from the sequel in a very thoughtful and mature manner, especially into comparison with other post-Horizon fix fics. I would also like to add that her Shepard is a diamond in the rough and the enormous gravitas of the situation -Horizon included- is handled with a certain believability that is greatly welcomed in the fandom. I also have to give her '''major''' praise for having the guts to [[spoiler: kill off characters like Jack, Zaeed and Thane]] in ''Exitus'', which is sure to fly in the face of a reader who hopes for a ''No Man Left Behind''-esque ending. Her sole ''Franchise/DragonAge'' story -focusing on a criminally overlooked character- is worth noting too.
** Behenian: Sinvraal writes well, and Exitus is well done, although her guts led the story to non-canonical places. For example, while Jack [[spoiler: can die in the suicide mission, Exitus has her offed fighting the Collectors boarding the ship.]] In-game, a cutscene shows all the squadmates boarding the shuttle with Shepard. Contrast with Exitus, where [[spoiler: Jack's not the only squadmate helping Joker; Thane and Zaeed are present also.]] That might well be a better version of events than the original game, but the reason the suicide mission has a ''Men Left Behind''-esque ending is that [[spoiler: Zaeed attempts to assassinate Shepard, and Thane prevents it, dying himself in the process]]. There is no climactic leap by Shepard across to Normandy's hatch: rather, [[spoiler: a psychologically broken Shepard is blackmailed and pushed into survival -- to further a romance subplot.]]
*** Barachiel: Agreed. The first half of Exitus is even better done than the first story, but I find the liberties taken to be a bit much. Never mind the changes to the events, which I can argue improve the story. Her Shepard veers hard into Wangs-y Deathseeker territory to further prop up the love story. I found it really disconcerting, and thought it weakened the character of Shepard rather severely.
** Joysweeper: Seriously, Sinvraal is by far my favorite ''Mass Effect'' writer. She writes the scenes I like most, in-between scenes, and main scenes through the eyes of someone who has different perspectives; she never writes from Shepard's perspective, allowing the Commander to be all mysterious; calls Shepard Shepard instead of her first name; and I like her crew interactions and the way she writes biotics. The only complaint I have is Kelly Chambers. Felt kind of out of left field. If Drew Karpyshyn turned writing the ''Mass Effect'' books over to her, I wouldn't mind much.
*** Behenian: Specifically, Chambers [[spoiler: is turfed from the ship, with ignominy, half-way through the events of the game]] -- another hardly canonical moment, and that is but the rift within the lute. I mean, it's a break in continuity [[spoiler: and a stretch given Chambers' character]], if a dramatic moment and well-written; and it is only the start, as Sinvraal acknowledges in afterwords... By the time of Certus, the events of [=ME3=] are barely recognizable.
** Estelindis: Agreed with all the above. Sinvraal keeps the characters true to their origins while adding vastly more detail and depth. Yet she does this without going on an information overload. Every little aspect is carefully chosen, and together they create an incredible effect (like a mosaic). While I enjoy Drew's novels, I find her writing style superior in nearly every way (praise for Sinvraal, not scorn for Drew). She happens to be quite happy working at her current job, but I would be delighted if a writing job opened up at Bioware that she was able and willing to take.
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Twitter #Solcomms
* Recommended (posthumously) by [=Blacksun388=]
* Synopsis: Fan made twitter page (now defunct) that chronicled the the Reaper invasion on Earth from the perspective of every day people around the world. People sent messages from military units, government officials, civilians, rescue operations teams, and local law enforcement across this board and wrote short stories and blogs about their own experiences.
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[[http://shannon.users.sonic.net/masseffect/ The Unofficial Mass Effect Epilogue Slides]]
* Recommended by: S1duri, [=DudeL=], brodyaga, digiman619
* Fan-made epilogue generator for ''Mass Effect 3''
** [=DudeL=]: I highly endorse this. I know at first the ending leaves a bad taste because of the amount of sacrifice and uncertainty but it still leaves a large opportunity for hope in the universe. This little endeavor shows how feasible that hope is and that the game isn't ruined. Might give an idea for what the Extended Cut will be like.
** digiman619: I second this; even after the Extended Cut came out, it still gives the finality that you want, as the Extended Cut just gave a "Things aren't ''totally'' screwed, we'll get over it" ending, and this gives finality not only to the universe, but to the people you saved the galaxy with and that meant something to you.
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[[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/2028268 The Wacky Fun-time Audio Thread]]
* Recommended by: [[http://kcblood2cheep.blogspot.com LoganLee88]], pcy623, @/{{Firebert}}
* A hysterical NSFW thread with edited audio from ''Mass Effect 2'', with pairings such as Male Shepard/Zaeed, Miranda/Jack, Grunt/Tali, Tali/Legion, Jacob/Kasumi and Thane/Samara, it's bound to put you in stitches if you aren't already uncomfortable hearing their "getting shot" audio as TheImmodestOrgasm. The way the creator pieced dialogue from the game together is more banter than you can find in the original game. Besides that, the thread includes Easter Eggs: cut audio from ''Mass Effect 2''.
** pcy623: That gave me the giggles.
** @/{{Firebert}}: Rite of Passage made me laugh out loud. "And he's a big one." "Impressive!"
** The BioWare forums have since gone offline, so here's an alternative link to the [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160804055821/https://forum.bioware.com/topic/102634-bobbytheis-wacky-fun-time-audio-edit-thread-updated-411/ Internet Archive]] where all the links from the forum post are still stored. While the links to the audio files aren't properly archived themselves, the original outbound links are still live and can be used to download the audio files.
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[[https://zirconaworks.com/ark-angel/ ZirconaWorks]]
* Recommended by: heirofapophis
* This author is only semi-active on Archive of our Own but has a pretty solid series going on of Shakarian fics that are (awesomely) illustrated as well.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:Alternate Universe Fics]]
[[folder:Alternate Universe Fics]]
''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12651245/1/A-Call-to-Duty A Call To Duty]]'' by Z98
* Recommended by Tropers/SuperTulle
* ''Status'': Complete, with a sequel that was last updated the 5th June, 2020.
* ''Synopsis'': Relations between the Terran Empire and the Citadel have been tense since the First Contact War, but efforts to reach amicable relations were bearing fruit. The discovery of a Prothean relic on Eden Prime offered another opportunity to improve relations, until things go badly awry. As Cadre, one of the emperor's chosen, Shepherd is charged with determining the truth, at any cost.
* ''Comments'': Z98 is an excellent author with a number of fics with their own pages here. This fic explores what would happen if humanity was ruled by a constitutional monarchy a la the United Kingdom when the events of [=ME1=] start happening. Z98 also changes or expands on several things that felt a bit rushed in the games.
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''Fanfic/CatalystExe'' by Shujin
* Recommended by: GLH
* Status: Dormant
* Synopsis: A doctor named Rebecca wakes up on Ilos, trapped within the memory banks of a Prothean computer. After adjusting to her new situation and creating an android body for herself, she sets about to preventing the canonical plot by doing her best to fortify Ilos, and prevent Saren from utilizing the Mass Relay to sneak Sovereign into the Citadel. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned because the reality she woke up in is not exactly the same one as in the games due to [[spoiler:the things she remembers actually being a simulation created by an insane Reaper looking to get one last [[BestServedCold Fuck You]] on Harbinger and the rest of the Reapers]]. Whoops.
* Comments: Lots of unintentional situations due to faulty information, misunderstandings, and bad decisions.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35524642 Lazarus Shunned]]'' by TwoEyedCharlie
* Recommended by: DoctorpooandtheTURDIS
* ''Status'': In Progress
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Cerberus has spent billions of credits trying to bring Commander Jane Shepard back from the dead, and despite the odds it seems to be working. Then a saboteur inside of Cerberus makes his move and Shepard's resurrection takes a horrific turn, leaving the Alliance, Shepard's old team, and Cerberus scrambling to control the situation...all while the Collectors begin their harvest of humanity. An AU "What If?" story where the Shepard that wakes up on Lazarus Station isn't the same person that died over Alchera.''
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8993389/1/Legacy-of-One Legacy of One]]'' by Salmon Center
* Recommended by: Magyareagle
* ''Status'': Dormant (last updated December 2017)
* ''Synopsis'': AU, Shepard didn't care much for glory or fame. Only that what she was due was returned in full. But, an oversight in her part to repay her debts to Commander Alenko, tips her silent world into the clutches of the Reaper War. Set post-''[=ME1=]'' till end of ''[=ME2=]''. Eventual [=FemShep=]/Garrus.
* ''Comments'': One of the most original and interesting AU fics I've read. It expands on a briefly mentioned sidequest in ''Mass Effect'' regarding the League of One, and expands upon it, building a fascinating and unique Shepard around it. It takes the usual premise of an alternate Commander Shepard, and spins it on its head by not having her be commander at all, instead giving the Normandy and its crew to Commander Alenko, the first Human Spectre. He is the one Cerberus chooses to resurrect, and as a result she never dies in the first place. The way this effects the crew and characters is done in realistic and believable way, and I love the fact that the characters actually act like adults instead of angsty teenagers. The writing is excellent, and I highly recommend the story.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/3640305/chapters/8041803 Sins of the Father]]'' by [=MsWikit=]
* Recommended by: Tropers/{{Theriocephalus}}
* ''Status'': Complete. A sequel, ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/11825832/chapters/26687001 Needs of the Many]]'', is in progress, but only has one chapter and has not updated since 2017.
* ''Pairings'': Fem!Shep/Nihlus Kryik
* ''Synopsis'': During a mission on Mindoir, Saren discovers a recently orphaned human who shows incredible promise. Believing he can mold her into the Spectre she was obviously meant to be, Saren adopts her and raises her as his own. He comes to realize that the galaxy is full of dangers -- and resolves to protect his daughter from all of them. The story then follows Jane Shepard -- or, here, Jane Arterius -- as she grows up as Saren's adopted daughter, even as their relationship steadily deteriorates as Saren slips further and further into the Reapers' sway as the events of the games approach.
* ''Comments'': This is an absolutely fantastic story. The writing is extremely good, and the characters' voices, motivations and development are very well-done. Saren and Jane's relationship in particular is fascinating to follow, and starts out in a very sweet and sentimental manner before taking a turn for the tragic. I heartily recommend reading this story.
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''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/til-i-change-your-mind-mass-effect-krogan-si.1036170/ Til I Change Your Mind]]'' by [=Stratagemini=]
* Recommended by: Thors_Alumni
* "Status": Ongoing with 55 chapters
* "Synopsis": The most surveilled Krogan in the Galaxy tries to obtain a happy ending to the Reaper War. Hijinks ensue.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:General Fics]]
[[folder:A-H]]
''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.''
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5639538/1/Accidental_Hero_of_the_Galaxy Accidental Hero of the Galaxy]]'' by Random Equinox
* Recommended by: Bufu, Deep Recon, Mavado, Magyareagle
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Commander Shepard. Hero of the Skyllian Blitz. First human Spectre. [[KleptomaniacHero Kleptomaniac]] [[RunningGag Hero]] Potential savior of humanity and the known galaxy. Pity no one asked him what HE thought of all this.
* ''Comments'': If you're already familiar with and enjoyed the Ciaphas Cain books set in the ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' universe, you should enjoy this fic as well. It's sets up Shepard as a pragmatic soul that always wants to paint himself as a self-serving Fake Ultimate Hero with good luck for getting into escalating scraps--all the while showing extraordinary heroism that belays his self-deprecation. The internal monologue is quite funny, lampshading many of the game's somewhat nonsensical situations. Furthermore, the interactions between the squad members is a joy to read, seeing their relationships grow from strained to a band of brothers forged in battle. I'm surprised nobody had already posted this one--especially the Warhammer 40,000/ME fans among us that I see enjoyed Dreadnaught!Shepard in Iron Rebirth below. --Bufu
** One of the biggest appeals of the Literature/CiaphasCain series was how readers could see perfectly well ''why'' Cain was revered as a hero, but his internal monologues and thoughts make it clear that he doesn't want anything to do with that sort of reputation. ''Accidental Hero of the Galaxy'' follows in the same vein: Shepard is clearly rolling along the Paragon path, but his every decision is clearly influenced by his desire to keep his own hide safe while making sure people don't grow to revile him. Similarly, both Cain and Shepard have a clearly lower opinion of themselves than they ought to, as acknowledge by Amberly and Anderson, respectively. Cain and Shepard are generally motivated by self-preservation, but there are times when they're clearly acting genuinely heroic and try to write it off as more of the same. Their desire to be innocuous is so strong that they'll deny heroism even when it ''isn't'' accidental, also playing to the great flaw that both characters have rather low self-esteem. --Deep Recon
** And now, there's two sequels [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6995396/1/The_Hero_We_Deserve The Hero We Deserve]] (see below) and [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10949645/1/The-Hero-Rises The Hero Rises]].
** A bit of FridgeBrilliance-- Shepard in this fic is an Infiltrator. Think about how that class fights... and how it fits perfectly with his character.
** YMMV. It can be interesting, but the primary appeal of Ciaphas Cain is not only the FakeUltimateHero that is zig-zagged, but also the over the top nature of Warhammer 40,000 being Lampshaded. Cain being a good commissar instead of a BadBoss, Inquisitor Vail being competent, etc. Without those elements, the fic is enjoyable, but (arguably) not to the same degree that the Ciaphas Cain series is.
** I'd say comparing the stories to Ciaphas Cain is a bit unfair. The brilliance of the stories is not because of their similarities to Cain, but because of how unique and fresh the voice of Shepard is. He has a bit of Cain in him, but the point of the stories is to create a genre savvy Shepard who is a mixture of rogue and charm without it being over the top or silly. I enjoyed the series quite a bit.
*** While I agree that the ''series'' tries to do this, I argue that the first story is far more true to the Cain Name. Later entries into the series would have the Shepard described in the post above... but my point remains.
* On an unrelated note, while I can recommend the main series of this author, I cannot recommend the spin-of side stories of the same. The author took inspiration from the fact that at the time of [=ME2=], Miranda's voice actor was on the TV show, Chuck. In the main series, this is more or less subtly handled. In the side stories, he just lifts the cast of Chuck whole-cloth and drops them into the story to fill out his Shepard's past friends and family. It's a bit... jarring to anyone familiar with the show.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/7885876 Ad Infinitum]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/AnneWhynn/pseuds/AnneWhynn AnneWhynn]]
* Recommended by [=VictorioMWolff-Haddock=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': The end has come. Elrika Shepard is faced with a choice. But, for once, Elrika Shepard turns to words instead of bullets in a desperate attempt to stave off the end.
* ''Comments'': A wonderful fanmade ''5th'' choice for the finale.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9052124/1/Aftermath Aftermath]]'' by [=RobinFoster=]
* Recommended by: achus93again
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Post-Mass Effect 3 – Destroy Ending, Paragon, Spacer, Soldier, Liara romance. Based on experiences of Commander Jess Shepard, Alliance Soldier and Human Spectre. Jess Shepard was certain the end to the Reapers would be the end to her as well. When she finds herself alive instead she struggles to pick up the pieces and find her way again.
* ''Comments'': Wonderful story that captures the events that could potentially happen Post-Reaper War, not to mention bits and pieces of fanservice dropped by the author. It's a happy ending to one of the most gut-wrenching endings for the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7048114/1/Aliens_are_Weird Aliens Are Weird]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2245016/KiwiDayDreams KiwiDayDreams]]
* Recommended by: Kuro Rei, @/{{Alynnidalar}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': AU. Shepard and Garrus meet when they're much younger at the Citadel childcare center. Garrus has never seen a human before and Shepard has never seen a Turian up close. Shenanigans ensue as they both find out that aliens are really weird.
* ''Comments'': A cute one-shot with Shepard and Garrus as completely normal kids. Bit of a long read, but will put a smile on your face. Cameos with Wrex and Conrad.
** Recommendation seconded by @/{{Alynnidalar}}. This is just plain ''adorable!'' You can definitely see that even when they were young, Garrus and Shepard (in this case, a female Spacer Shepard, most likely Paragon) had the foundations for the awesome people we know and love today. And Wrex's cameo is fantastic. Sure, we tend to think of him as the big, bad battlemaster who can crush a Geth prime by glaring at it too hard, but somehow it still fits him that he'd be nice to kids.
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'' Fanfic/AndTheMeekShallInheritTheGalaxy[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9156000/1/And-the-Meek-Shall-Inherit-the-Galaxy ]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4156181/Full-Paragon Full-Paragon]]
* Completed
* Recommended by: eduardogranja, Kalvan
* ''Synopsis'': When Captain Rael'Zorah decides to check out strange activity at Relay 314 due to a slight shift in the path of the Migrant Fleet, he finds more then just Turians. Hannah Shepard becomes one of the first humans to ever meet an alien, and first contact for humanity begins not with a war, but with gifts for a young John Shepard and Tali'Zorah. AU First contact, human/Quarian.
* Pairings: [=MShepard=]/Tali (ToyShip at the moment) Hackett/OC Quarian Admiral, Henry Lawson/Daro'Xen [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer I am not making this up!]]!
* Tags: NotSafeForWork due to graphic violence in some chapters, as the [[spoiler: Relay 314 Incident still happened and was a little worse in this fic]]. Also, [[spoiler: Jack was spared Teltin... because she was raised by Krogan instead]].
* Comments: The complete change from the canon is refreshing, with the Quarians and humans integrating in a completely different level. The fanfic progresses to a [[spoiler: cold war between the Council and the Quarian/human/Krogan "League" and the whole galaxy is a lot more well armed]]. Extra points for the young squadmates appearing a lot, specially Jack and Miranda.
* An interesting AU fic asking what if human First Contact had happened with the Quarians, and then the Turians had accidentally fired on an unarmed hospital ship, causing the Quarians to come to its rescue. Note that while some things turn out for the happier, particularly for the Quarians, other things look to be turning for the worse. For example, the [[spoiler: Batarians]] look to be getting a council seat soon, as a means to box humans in at the Local and Exodus Clusters, and [[spoiler:it looks like all the Geth will be supporting Sovereign]].
** YMMV on some of these. For those who read a lot of ''Mass Effect'' fan fiction, parts of it read as a tiny bit of human wank, and the grammar/word choice sometimes comes across as lacking. The Human/Quarian alliance also comes about a little too fast for my tastes, happening mere ''days'' after first contact. Humanity also comes across as somewhat hive-minded, with most people agreeing with the group consensus, which is particularly strange for a ''Mass Effect'' story (where humans are noted to have much more variety than other species (we see Colonists who want nothing to do with the Alliance and Cerberus, just for the most obvious examples in the games). The Tali-Shepard romance feels somewhat forced and wooden, and character interactions are ''not'' where this story shines. On the other hand, it's fairly enjoyable, with deep plots, secret agreements, and machiavellian scheming. It also genuinely makes the process of indoctrination terrifying, something that many other stories simply gloss over in favor of using it to make bad guys. In short, I'd recommend, but take it with a grain of salt that it's not gonna be one of the best. -Sithking Zero
** Started off very well, was very moving as a piece about a noblebright humanity going out into the galaxy. Writing was more or less unpolished, not technically great by any stretch of the imagination, but it was easily overlooked as the complex plot moved forwards. Character shipping got out of hand, but it's fanfiction, largely forgiveable. But it got more stale as time went on, and has become somewhat preachy from the author's own religious viewpoint, particularly with the sequel. The first story is worth your time, the sequel isn't. -GGI
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11395652/1/Beacon-s-Effect Beacon's Effect]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5406511/Tusken1602 Tusken1602]]
* Recommended by: Katkiller V
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': " A young man on earth stumbles across a prothean beacon on earth, and makes the mistake of touching it. He is promptly struck by lightning, killed, while a Leviathan elects to send his mind to the ''Mass Effect'' universe to try and adjust things a bit. The first story covers ''Mass Effect 1'', the second the time between ''1'' and ''2'', with the third working its way through ''Mass Effect 2''. The fourth and final story has just begun, and will cover ''Mass Effect 3''.
* ''Comments'': A self-insert fic with a slightly unusual twist, the main character eventually realizing that he isn't the only consciousness inhabiting his body and how he has to deal with the other personalities. The first story is a little rough, both in terms of style and in terms of the author struggling with the over-powered SI that he had created, but things massively improve as the series continues.
** Now with three sequels:
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11610064/1/Beacon-s-Effect-2-Reborn Reborn]]'' (Complete)
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11964674/1/Beacon-s-Effect-3-Awakening Awakening]]'' (Complete)
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12275989/1/Beacon-s-Effect-4-Reckoning Reckoning]]'' (Complete)
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''[[http://santi01.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2t4qqh Black Moon Rising]]'' by santi01
* Recommended by: @/DrJekyl
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': " A by-the-book detective finds a her simple investigation into odd rumours of drink spiking in Eternity spiraling out of control. Soon she and an unconventional asari matriarch are tearing up Nos Astra in pursuit of answers and maybe a little revenge.
* ''Comments'': A ''Mass Effect''-flavoured classic buddy-cop drama with a noir twist. Action, adventure and arse-kicking with beats of humour. Plus, Matriarch Aethyta, who's always a winner. The link goes to the first installment; for the rest you'll unfortunately need to go through the author's deviant art account.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/25793140/chapters/62649412 Born From Ashes]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/HeronBlues/pseuds/HeronBlues HeronBlues]]
* Recommended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis'': John Shepard was the only person rescued after the attack on Mindoir, but it was seeing his little sister Jane taken by Batarians that truly made him into "the Butcher of Torfan". When he finds out she may still be alive, he dedicates himself to rescuing her. But even if he does, after thirteen years as a slave, would there be anything left of the girl he knew?
* ''Comments'': An interesting way to have both John and Jane be canon, though at times it's ''extremely'' dark, dealing unflinchingly with child abuse, rape, slavery, and some '''nightmarishly''' severe PTSD for more than a few characters. Also does a deep dive into how Garrus built his team on Omega, Tali's life in the Migrant Fleet, and an alternate origin for the Andromeda Initiative.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6352739/1/ Broken Wings]]'' by Coombs
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''After the destruction of the Normandy, Joker is grounded and returns to Arcturus Station. Cerberus recruits him. Rated M for strong language and sexual content.''
* ''Comments'': It's quite an angsty take on Joker's reactions after the crash. Might be a bit drawn out, but worth it for the relationship explorations.
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''[[http://fanfiction.net/s/5515134/1/Cause_and_Effect Cause and Effect]]'' by Raven Studios
* Recommended by: [=Pyrotorch246=], @/{{Randomfanboy}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Pre-Mass Effect. Jalissa Shepard meant to stay a farmer on Mindoir after high school. And then the Batarians came. 100 prompts. 1,000 words. From Mindoir, through basic, to Elysium, to just before boarding the Normandy. Snapshots of Shepard's life." --official Summary by author. Pretty much as written.
* ''Comments'': Literally a bunch of 1,000 word vignettes interspaced throughout Shepard's life from Mindoir to right before the beginning of the game. Exceptionally well written. Now has a sequel concerning the events of the first game, with plans to continue the series through the end of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''.
** Fair warning -- this is ''dark''. Jalissa Shepard is one of the biggest {{Iron Woobie}}s I've ever read, and the other characters in the sequel series all become even bigger woobies than they already are. It's definitely not bad, but reading it all in one go can push you across the DespairEventHorizon.
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''[[http://fanfiction.net/s/6083201/1 Cause and Effect: Newton's First Law]]'' by Raven Studios
* Recommended by: [=Pyrotorch246=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A sequel to ''Cause and Effect'' that picks up with Shepard's transfer to the Normandy and covers the first game.
* ''Comments'': This fic is in the same style as its predecessor -- 1,000 word chapters that are something of a slice of life look at Shepard and her crew as they go through the events of the original ''Mass Effect''. At 246 chapters, it has definitely reached DoorStopper status.
** And now a second sequel, for ''Mass Effect 2'', entitled [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8013630/1/Mass_Effect_Newtons_Second_Law Newton's Second Law]] (Complete)
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9679648/1/Children-of-Nemesis Children of Nemesis]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1935525/Solaris242 Solaris242]]
* Recommended by: [=BrownieInMotion=]
* Status: Probably Dead (Last updated January 2015)
* ''Synopsis'': "There was a theory once, about Nemesis, the Dark Star. Stillborn twin to the sun, it wandered the void, black and cold, and every 25 thousand years, came back home. AU."
* ''Comments'': Once again, [=Solaris242=] comes through with an innovative, unique take on humans and their role in the ''Mass Effect'' 'verse. The author's tendency to Humanity Wank balances with a refreshing look into settings and circumstances that typically go unexplored, and, let's face it--seeing the humans kick ass is a lot of fun. Only a few chapters have been released, however; his/her other work, ''Transcendent Humanity'', seems to have priority at the moment.
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''[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/mass-effect-conception-warning-spoilers.219158/ Conception]]'' by [=lloyd007=]
* Recommended by: @/GentlemensDame883
* ''Status'': Dead; thread last updated November 2016
* ''Synopsis'': ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' ending AU. [[spoiler:The Reapers took Humanity and made it one of their own,]] but Mankind will not bow so easily. Warning: CosmicHorrorStory ahead.
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''Fanfic/CrucibleMassEffect'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4286077/SirArthurNudge SirArthurNudge]]
* Recommended by: Mei-may
* Status: First book completed, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11342536/1/Destiny Sequel]] dormant (last updated May 2017).
* Prequel: [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9366808/1/Refuge Refuge]]
* Companion fic/Alternative Future fic [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9194901/1/Interference Interference]]
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9329069/1/Familia-Ante-Omnia Familia Ante Omnia]]''
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9077219/1/Mothers-and-Father Mothers and Fathers]]''
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9073380/1/The-First-Hello The First Hello]]''
* Pairing: femShep/Garrus, Miranda/Victus, Tali/Vega, [=OCs/OCs=].
* Warning: This fic contain gore, child molestation and DeathOfAChild, read at your own risks.
* ''Synopsis'': Jane Shepard has ended the Reaper War but sometimes the end is just the beginning as a ship from [[BadFuture a future]] appears to save her from the ruin of the Crucible. As Shepard meets leader of the ship, Lantar Sidonis together with his crews of [[HalfHumanHybrid turian-human hybrids]], one of which is Gaius, her and Garrus's son; she discover that not only there is a force that even more powerful than the Reapers is lurking to devour this universe but the world is also consisting of many things that mortals cannot see.
* ''Comments'': Good plot with many complex {{OC}}s and plot twists. There are many of heartwarming scenes just as many of TearJerker and very dark moments. Despite the clear cut between the good and bad guys, many times the author brings up the "gray" of the world to make us think and discuss over it. The way the CosmicHorrorStory elements in the original games are taken up to eleven but still retaining Sci-fi elements is also quite creative. The grammar still need some works but the author said they will polish everything again after the story is finished. That said, many of you may not agree with [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation some characterizations]] in this story (Like Hackett being a man who put human's benefits on top everything and has no qualm about doing immoral things or [[spoiler: Tali siding with her Quarian's family and betray her comrades)]]. Overalls, there are flaws in this story but it's definitely worth a try.
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''[[http://thatsnotme7.livejournal.com/767.html Destroyed]]'' by That'sNotMe
* Recommended by: [=Tov01=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After destroying the Reapers, Shepard is recovered from the rubble and begins her slow recovery. But the physical wounds are far easier to heal than the psychological one as she struggles to come to terms with the decision she made on the Citadel.
* ''Comments'': A very well done one-shot that is equal parts heartwarming and tear jerker.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5031104/1/The_Distress_Call The Distress Call]]'' by [=Knightfall1138o=]
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Many decisions lie ahead. Most of them pointless.
* ''Comments'': A nice parody about the trailer where Shepard turns away the distress call from Noveria. We see off-camera behind the scenes as the victims of Noveria tried to make sense with the rejection, as they are being bombed to death while Shepard was busy picking up minerals at his leisure.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12445583/1/Eden Eden]]'' by Darkdanny
* Recommended by: Herpderpded
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Do you think they will remember us? Will what we did here even matter a week from now? Was any of this worth it?"
* '' Comments'': Part of Darkdanny's PTSD series which is a series of interconnected stories based around the misery of fighting the Reapers. This story takes a break from Shepard and instead focuses around a turian and a human military officers trapped on Eden Prime after the Reapers hit. Darkdanny has proven himself time and time again with writing original characters, This story is no different and with his new one scene a chapter policy he has blown through this story in record time and with minimal errors. Warning: I needed tissues at the end of it.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7926888/1/An-Elegant-Solution An Elegant Solution]]'' by James Golen
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard isn't a soldier; he's an engineer. ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' Ending-spoilers
* ''Comments'': This is an ''Mass Effect 3'' ending fic. The writing is concise and pleasant, the Shepard is original and smart. Strong dialogue between an engineer and a giant god-like computer.
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''[[http://jtav.livejournal.com/52709.html Engineered]]'' by jtav
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Miranda's father considers his dynasty, his daughter, and the man in her life.'' Contains M!Shepard/Miranda, but it's technically not a shipping fic in the conventional sense.
* ''Comments'': A chilling story from the POV of Miranda's father concerning an issue that to this day still divides Miranda's fanbase. Miranda herself is quite in character (I winced at one of her suggestions, but regardless of personal feelings, it was in-character of her to say), which is a plus. A short, but well-done read.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5809961/1/Exitus Exitus]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1556242/sinvraal Sinvraal]]
* Recommended by: owlbot, [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' Explorations, variations and off-camera moments from the ''Mass Effect 2'' storyline. Multiple character [=POVs=].
* ''Comments:'' An excellent fic weaving in and out of the [=ME2=] storyline, expanding on character viewpoints and weaving subplots in and out. Fem!Shep seems to be more of a Paragade rather than a particularly clean-cut Paragon or Renegade, which makes her own personal interactions and plots quite a bit more interesting. Also includes one of the most utterly fantastic portrayals of Legion ever witnessed in Franchise/MassEffect fanfic history.
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''Fanfic/FightForTheLost'' by [=LuxDragon=]
* Recommended by: biodude711, extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Synopsis'': "Entire human colonies are vanishing. To save humanity, the galaxy's best and toughest individuals come together to form an unlikely team, all led by one very specific man." A novelization of ''Mass Effect 2''.
* Status: Complete
* Pairing: M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson, Jacob Taylor/Kasumi Goto, other shippings implied.
* ''Comments'': As stated before, this story is VERY well written and not only focuses on the characterization of Commander Shepard but the rest of crew and team as well as they prepare for their suicide mission to stop the Collectors. The author does take some liberty with some of the game mechanics, but these changes don't take away from the story and help to make the story more believable. Very highly recommended and a must read for fans of ''Mass Effect 2''.
** An outstanding piece and proof that fanfiction need not always be trash, but actually holds the potential to transcend the original material and take on a life of its own. ''Fight for the Lost'' is the premiere ''Mass Effect'' fanfic on the entire internet. The narrative is true to the themes, narrative, and setting of the story in ''Mass Effect 2'', while the author still finds room to inject new dialogue and plot points to further enrich the experience and sets this work apart from its peers. Bonus points to Miri/Shepard fans, this is your treat on the house. More points for including the respective perspectives of virtually every team member and crewman on the ''Normandy'', and even some minor [=NPCs=]. [[spoiler:More bonus points to Shepard's duel with Harbinger after destroying the human-Reaper embryo. His ''solo'' duel with Harbinger.]]
** This story is a ''[[{{Doorstopper}} loooong]]'' one, and every minute reading it is well spent. The author perfectly captures the spirit of the game. With all of the new, [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]], or reimagined scenes and the exploration into the characters' thoughts and viewpoints, this fic has finally earned [[Fanfic/FightForTheLost its own page on this site.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7921641/1/The-Final-Problem The Final Problem]]'' by Mighty Crouton
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': How do you solve an impossible problem? A story of indoctrination, chaos, and freedom. Sequel to Kingdom of Rust
* ''Comments'': There are a lot of stories floating out there with unique ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' endings, but this one takes the cake. Crouton really dives into ''ME''[='=]s themes -- free will, control, chaos, order, right, and wrong. One of the most interesting takes on indoctrination, and his Shepard remains very unique and incredibly intriguing. She's like the brain child of Dr. Who, Lisbeth Salander, and Sherlock, and an incredibly flawed AntiHero. The first chapter is a wonderful 1st person account of someone who Crouton hints is brilliant yet egotistical and makes for a terrible human but a wonderful reaper killer.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7278544/1/First_Contact First Contact]]'' by Animus of Masada
* Recommended by: {{@/Alynnidalar}}, Tropulastic, [=BioD=]
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis:'' An asari exploration vessel discovers Earth in the 2030's...and the first contact scenario has incredible implications for both species. What does humanity look like through alien eyes? Where do they go from here?
* ''Comments:'' An interesting look at what would happen if humanity became part of the galactic community TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture--and, more importantly, if the asari were the first to meet us, rather than the Turians. As you can imagine, things turn out quite peacefully... although there are hints at darker conspiracies revolving around this new species. Starts off very light-hearted and comedic (humanity's first words to an alien species are pretty classic), slowly turning more serious as it continues, but never entirely losing the light-heartedness.
** Liking it so far. I'm a sucker for the HumansThroughAlienEyes trope, and even if there seem to be a few mistakes in accuracy, I'm liking the RousseauWasRight undertones of the first contact.
** It's something of a ScrapBookStory. The anachronic order and multiple format story telling (from the normal prose to [[FictionalDocument fake alien essays]]) are interesting and provides some incredibly emotional moments. If the recovery of [[spoiler:the Mars rovers]] doesn't make you well up a little you might lack empathy all together.
** It starts off really good, and never really gets bad, but after a while, it starts to be less story, and more reports on humanity that come off very pro-human. It spends entire chapters going on about how great humanity is in a very essay like format, and while it was interesting when these reports were only a paragraph or two and added to the story, they become very dry and repetitive fast, have no real impact on the plot, and in fact, start pushing the plot out of the way to the point where you're lucky to get a paragraph of actual story every chapter after chapter 8 or so. Around this point, you could very well tear the reports out, and have lost nothing of importance from the ongoing story. The plot itself suffers a lot as it goes on, going from fairly well paced, to a slow crawl. The anachronistic order can get confusing, and as the story goes on it gets dropped, with the author not even bothering to add dates anymore because he's no longer switching between the different times. Not a bad fic, but not great, and it hasn't been updated in about 3 years now, so could possibly be dead.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8293708/1/ Forfeit]]'' by artistic mishap
* Recommended by: Full-Paragon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Admiral Hackett must deal with running a post-reaper Earth, and deal with the fact that his daughter, Riley Shepard, is likely dead.
* ''Tags'': Has some very disturbing but realistic looks at likely fall out from a Destroy ending. Rated T, drama/tragedy.
* ''Comments'': Very well written,very intimate look into Stephen Hackett's mind and answers the question of just who Shepard's father is. Has a Garrus/Shepard Hackett/Hanna Shepard pairings, but those may be on hold due to death or trauma.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7089866/1/Friends_Like_These Friends Like These]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Pyjak, @/USABobcat, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Takes place towards the start of [=ME2=]. Tali begins to notice Shepard disappearing from the ship at odd times and convinces Garrus, Joker and Dr. Chakwas to follow him to find out why.
* ''Comments'': Funny while staying completely in character, with the kind of sniping and bitching you'd expect from people who spend waaaay too much time together. The humor comes completely from knowing the characters, as opposed to having dialogue filled with a bunch of OOC one liners. Becomes even funnier when they catch up to Shepard and [[spoiler: discover he's ducking out so he can escape a diet imposed by Miranda and has been doing so for months. It becomes a battle of wills between Garrus who wants to turn him in, and Shepard who is trying his best to bribe his crew to cover for him.]]
** Freakin' hilarious. The author's got a knack for dialogue and the characters are spot on. A lot of humorfics go over the top, but this one is intelligent, well written and has a good plot for as short as it is. Shepard and Garrus's verbal sparring in the third chapter is especially fun, as is everyone teasing Tali for being a secret Shepard stalker. Also, the crew's responses when he challenges them to name the most fit person on the ship made me laugh out loud for real. Moved this one to General Fics because while funny, it focuses a lot on Garrus, Tali, Joker and the Doctor and why they are loyal to Commander Shepard.
** Seconded. Everything Pyjack said is true. A lovely taste of comedy in a universe that can be rather grim.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7829456/1/From_Hells_Heart From Hell's Heart]]'' by gtamaster316
* Recommended by: [=MetalKing1417=]
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': A fic where the so called "First Contact War" between the Humans and the Turians blossomed into a full out 47 year war between Humans and the Turians.
* ''Comments'': A surprisingly well written fic that explores the implications of what might have happened if negotiations broke down between humans in the Turians. Several Cannon characters receive different, though reasonable recharacterizations in this fic, one of the most noticeable being [[spoiler: Sarren]], who now has an entirely different view of humans thanks to an encounter with one, as well as the fact that humanity had to make some, less than savory deals with factions that other fics tend to have them at war with [[spoiler: like the Batarians]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8612869/1/From-The-Stars-We-Come From The Stars We Come]]'' by Nuclear Bacon
* Recommended by: mrtaco6
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': The life and trials of an N7 Ops Team. Four unlikely people come together to defend the galaxy from the Reaper threat.
* ''Comments'': Even at only two chapters so far, this story has ''a lot'' of promise. In my opinion, there aren't enough ''Mass Effect'' multiplayer team fics around, and this should hopefully fill the niche nicely.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4843572/1/The_Galaxy_Needs_Heroes The Galaxy Needs Heroes]]'' by paul16
* Recommended by: Tepoztecal
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''After Sovereign's death some of the aftershocks run in unexpected directions.''
* ''Comments'': It has been said of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' that the game proves GoodIsNotNice. This fic proves Shepard doesn't need to go Renegade to be a cold-blooded sociopath.
** While I would say that the story itself is actually quite good, the author is horrible with punctuation. Missing commas where there should be, a lack of scene breaks, and otherwise poor use of punctuation make for an annoyingly distracting read.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12171808/1/Gods-Monsters Gods and Monsters]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3024585/the-subverter the.subverter]] and [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2329073/The-Allusive-Man The Allusive Man]]
* Recommended by: drlequack47, @/{{Dyuran}}
* Status: Dormant(last updated September 2016)
* Synopsis: "Miranda struggles to keep a fractured Jane Shepard focused on the task of defeating the Collectors. Meanwhile, Maya Brooks steals Shepard's clone and tries to stay one step ahead of Cerberus. Pairings: It's complicated."
* Comments: It takes what was a fun and stupid,joke idea from the Citadel DLC and turns it into one of the most engaging, dark, suspenseful, and overall intriguing stories on the site. The clone, who is a throwaway character in 3, has a personality of her own and isn't just some mustache twirling villain. She's a reluctant anti-hero who doesn't know her connection to Commander Shepard, but knows they're linked regardless. Hope Lilium is fleshed out in fantastic ways. Her relationship with The Clone is developed and evolved over time. And Shepard herself is such a tragic, broken, character. Someone who died and came back, but didn't come back the same. While not a good person, you do sympathize for her. Even while not complete it is well worth the read. Check it out and leave a review.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5453047/1/Graveyard_Shift Graveyard Shift]]'' by Creator/{{Peptuck}}
* Recommended by: corin, Bufu
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': A {{Novelization}} of the first ''VideoGame/{{Mass Effect|1}}'' game, that cuts close to the plot of the original story, while still making some deviations. Features a male biotic Colonist Shepard that has aspects of both the War Hero and the Ruthless backgrounds.
* ''Comments'': Another videogame {{Novelization}} by the same author behind ''Fanfic/TiberiumWars'' and ''Fanfic/{{Forward}}''. Still just starting up (as of this point, the story has just reached the Citadel) but so far, by the reviewers' response, its a very well-written story that paints Shepard in an interesting light as both a pragmatic soldier and a traumatized veteran. Promises to be good, if the author could just keep up with regular updates.
** Rather good writing, as Tiberium Wars has already proved. To be honest, I need a little more to judge by, but what he's written so far is very intriguing. He's doing a great job of adapting the story to the medium, and with good results so far. Only complaints so far is irregular update schedule. Definitely worth the time if you would like something to read without sifting through mountains of mediocre fics.
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''[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=201713 Harvest]]'' by Nuts!
* Recommended by: [=Gore17=], hodaza, @/USABobcat, @/{{Jonn}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Was that the first time a geth asked it if had a soul?" "No. It was the first time a Creator became frightened when we asked."
* ''Comments'': Words cannot do this fic justice. Read it and remember why you love fanfic.
** Seconded
** @/USABobcat: Just a one-shot, but a very well done one-shot. Makes you feel the separation between Geth and Quarian quite well, and somehow reminds me of a mother and her children. If you like either the Geth or the Quarians, read this. It will remind you why you still comb through archives of fanfiction, for the elusive works of quality.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9530512/1/Helping-hand Helping Hand]]'' by ENECON
* Recommended by: @/DemiserofD
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A different take on Kelly's famous(or infamous) dance scene at the end of [=ME2=]. [=FemShep=] x Kelly
* ''Comments'': A very interesting(and heartwarming) take on the aforementioned dancing scene. Short, but well worth the read. WAFF incoming!
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6995396/1/The-Hero-We-Deserve The Hero We Deserve]]'' by Random Equinox
* Rexommended by @/{{DealsWithFate3}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Humans are being abducted, probably because someone has really poor taste. Shepard has to find out why and stop them with the help of a band of misfits. They say it's a suicide mission. So what else is new? [[spoiler: Well, getting killed for starters...]]
* ''Comments'': The sequel to [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5639538/1/Accidental-Hero-of-the-Galaxy Accidental Hero of the Galaxy]], and benefits from the better pacing and characterization due to the improvements in gameplay and story between ME 1 and ME 2.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8153333/1/The-Homefront The Homefront]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2538189/ The-Mass-Effect-Gamer]]
* Recommended by: survivor6861
* Status: Dormant
* Synopsis: It's 2186, and the Reapers have attacked. Major Coats learns of the true nature of the Reapers and joins forces with Admiral Anderson, and together they set out to combat this ancient enemy and hold out as they prepare for Shepard's eventual return
* Comments: One of the few fics that deal with the challenges of maintaining a resistance on a planet that is under total occupation by a race of machine overlords. Well-written, this fic is one of the few hidden gems of ME fan fiction
** [=Hedgehog1=]: Agreed. The story starts off a bit slow and the characters introduced seem a bit cookie-cutter at first, but they really start to feel real and almost canonical to me as the story progresses. His writing definitely improves in the later chapters.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8401434/1/How-Hard-Could-It-Be How Hard Could It Be?]]''
* Recommended by: @/Kirook
* Status: Main story is complete, but the author continues to add chapters based on user requests.
* Synopsis: Two years after the defeat of the Reapers, Ashley and Shepard have moved on to the next challenge, raising their daughters. Set after [=ME3=], assuming Shepard survived the Destroy ending.
* Tags: Some chapters fall under SugarWiki/{{WAFF}}, because of the [[BabiesEverAfter subject matter.]] However, other chapters do involve combat, and some invoke [[spoiler:Adult Fear.]] Some sexy stuff, but nothing explicit; this is not a {{Lemon}}.
* Comments: This fic is at various times [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments hilarious]], SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|Moments}}, and [[TearJerker tearjerking]]. Everyone is in character, and Shepard and Ashley's love of their children is written beautifully. The fic also contains an interesting look at what happens when Maddy, Shepard's oldest daughter, goes to school, and how her [[PlayerCharacter father's]] [[TheHero legacy]] affects her life.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:I-P]]
''Fanfic/IngloriousBoshtets'' by [=500MetricTonnesofPalladium=]
* Recommended by: Kalaong
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing(s):'' Tali/Shepard, though nothing more than hints and remarks from Tali's side.
* ''Synopsis:'' Tali has been stuck with a bad assignment and a worse crew after returning to the Migrant Fleet. During what should have been a routine scanning mission, HilarityEnsues and the ship time travels back to Earth, 2005... and that's just her first mission!
* ''Comments:'' A well written fic with enough humor in it to keep things light but retaining some serious moments. Some of the details of the ''Mass Effect ''universe have been sacrificed for the story, but if you can get over that it is well worth a look and at the very least Tali is beautifully in character.
** Kalaong: The name may be a reference to Creator/QuentinTarantino's [[Film/InglouriousBasterds latest hamtastic masterpiece]], but it's really about those losers that [[YouCantThwartStageOne get slaughtered in stage two]] of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. They're nowhere near as badass as the Basterds. But they are ChaoticStupid enough to be the Migrant Fleet's answer to [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 The Team]].
** This troper has named his Quarian Soldier in Prazza's honor. [[CatchPhrase WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!]] Having read both this and the sequel below, I'd say they're worth a read. Prazza truly is ChaoticStupid, but does get moments of CrazyIsCool. A rather more rounded AscendedExtra also appears, and is more badass than ever. The rest of the bunch are a decent laugh too (3 words; Krogan Death Metal!). Just don't ask them to fix your scanning equipment; it'll end in tears.
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''Fanfic/{{Interstitium}}'' by Assault Sloth
* Recommended by: Deadpool Fan, Darkholme, @/{{Firebert}}, sushemi, owlbot, Bustamouse, Vellaen, [=GrantMK2=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A series of oneshots weaving in and out of the [=ME2=] plot, focusing on major and minor character POV's alike!
* ''Comments'': The series overall does a great job of detailing some of the more minor and major characters of the ''Mass Effect'' universe. The stories give us a better idea of who these people are and its surprisingly accurate to their personalities. The chapter detailing Grunt and Kal'Reegar's points of view is very well done, contrast Grunt's Blood Knight tendencies with Kal's professional soldier personality. Even lesser known NPC characters are given a good deal of characterization, such as one Krogan tank-born that's one of Professor Okeer's reject pile and even Wilson, a minor bit player at the start of the game, is given a full chapter devoted to him that wonderfully broadens his character. All in all its a great read.
** Seconded, the author manages to breathe life into both the setting and the characters.
** A really great read, especially if you're tired of fics focusing only on the main characters. Recommended to all comers.
** Besides being a great alternative glance into the minds of the cast, it also does a good job of figuring out ''why'' certain things [[spoiler: like Lawson just so happening to find Oriana at that specific time]] would logically happen. Also does a great job of making Mordin a proper mad scientist.
** It's pretty much THE best fanfic i have ever read in my life. Every chapter is written in a slightly different way, which shows differences between [=POVs=]. Nearly all characters are much more interesting here than in a game, as author could deepen the relations between crew, what we sadly couldn't see in a game. Flashbacks are also wtirren superbly, especially the chapters about EDI, Zaeed, Shepard and Miranda. I can only wholeheartedly reccomend this fic.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7925479/1/In_Times_of_War In Times of War]]'' by [=MLGumm=]
* Recommended by: openseseme
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From plot summary-In times of war friends pop up from the oddest places. A human colony kid, barely fifteen and a turian C-Sec officer closing in on twice her age certainly count as an odd pair of friends, but war has a way of bringing us together, even as it tears us apart.
* ''Comments'': A tale of friendship told through minimalistic prose that creates a vivid picture of who each character is and how they interact. The shortness of the chapters can be hard to get used to at first, but this troper thinks the story works largely because of the simplicity. Currently a work in progress.
** Now complete. Be warned, while most of the story is funny and sweet it starts to get darker towards the end, which is heartbreaking.
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''Iron Sharpens Iron'' by snippax
* Recommended by: Kalaong
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShep=] is made more awesome than canon in the only way canon could provide; she was raised by Clan Urdnot as an honorary [[ProudWarriorRace Krogan]].
* ''Comments'': [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Shepard raised by Krogan.]] What else can be said?
** Seconded by [=FelicitySprings=]. This is an excellent fic, especially if you're frustrated by many of the constraints of the canon Shepard backgrounds. As an added bonus, there's a good deal of [=FemShep=]/Miranda, [=FemShep=]/Jack and [=FemShep=]/Ashley in this fic, and that type of content at this level of quality is a rare thing indeed.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5763678/1/Kingdom-of-Rust Kingdom of Rust]]'' by Mighty Crouton
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': It takes an ocean of trust if you are going to survive long hours traveling between solar systems. Garrus and Shepard pass the time despite cultural and language barriers before the Omega-4 Relay Mission.
* ''Comments'': Kingdom of Rust explores an intimate friendship between a human and Turian. The first and second chapter are very well done, with both characters appropriating each other's body language. Speaking as someone who has traveled, this story is very realistic of two cultures clashing into one another. Foucault is an exceptional Renegade [=FShep=]. Crouton hints at an ambiguous disorder that may or may not be Asperger's, a bit of an {{iron woobie}} mixed with {{knight in sour armor}}. Probably one of the best Shepards I've ever read, and the fact her nickname is Foucault tells me Crouton has done his research on humanist philosophies.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6091474/1/KOKOMO KOKOMO]]'' by ghost.713
* Recommended by: Ghastdream, Tikigod784
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Even vermin have a story." This is about a Vorcha
* ''Comments'': Tragic and beautifully written, especially concerning its alien perspective.
** A great look into the "society" of a race that Creator/BioWare probably only intended as simple cannon fodder. If this were canon, a Vorcha squad mate could arguably have the most alien dialogue in the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9098391/1/Legacy-of-the-Shadow-Broker Legacy of the Shadow Broker]]'' by [=LuxDragon=]
* Recommended by: extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Synopsis'': "Information. It had always been the Shadow Broker's main trade and source of power. Deception, his weapon; anonymity, his shield. To bring down his empire and avenge a friend, Liara, Shepard, and their allies must take on all the forces that the Shadow Broker will bring to bear to preserve his secrets. And his life." A novelization of ''Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC pack.
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson
* ''Comments'': [=LuxDragon=] hasn't lost any talent for hooking readers by the gums and dragging them along for the wild ride, still includes bonus points for the M!Shepard/Miranda fans out there, and for including intelligent and natural interactions between the ''Normandy'' crew.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6432617/1/The_Long_Walk The Long Walk]]'' by Prisoner 24601
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Jacob Taylor deals with the death of Miranda Lawson, by speaking with Kelly Chambers and has a conversation-so to speak-with EDI and Joker.
* ''Comments'': Seeing as I love fan fic where Kelly Chambers isn't relegated to the disgusting and tired old jokes of being the ship's bicycle and is treated as a professional counselor, that alone makes this story worth reccing. Not only that, but so often we've seen how Shepard reacts to the deaths of various teammates... we rarely ever see it done from the POV of a squadmate. Prisoner tackles this with Jacob-another ill-treated character in fandom-with a maturity that makes both chapters very much worth reading.
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''Webcomic/MarauderShields'' by koobismo
* Recommended by: Mr.Underhill, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': A brilliant set of comics that started out silly but is quickly evolving into a viable alternate [=ME3=] ending in its own right. Koobismo takes the Indoctrination Theory and ''runs with it'', detailing what the rest of Shepard's squad (including the [=ME2=] cast who were [[DemotedToExtra Demoted To Extras]] in the canon game) is doing while s/he is out of commission. It will be very interesting to see how this one pans out.
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''Fanfic/MassEffect2AULanius'' by College Fool
* Recommended by: @/PSychotic, @/GentlemensDame883, The Anguished One
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': When the Shadow Broker brings the Commander back, Cerberus is behind the colony abductions for unclear reasons, and a fallen hero of the Alliance who can foil even Shepard is at the head of it, it's just the start of a different ''Mass Effect 2''... [=ME2=] AU
* ''Comments'': A complete reimagining of [=ME2=], and absolutely fantastic. The only problem is the occasional misspelling. It's similar to Renegade Reinterpretations (the author wrote both), in that it's less like reading a story and more like reading how ''Mass Effect'' could have been.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928095/1/Mass_Effect_3_After_the_Fall Mass Effect 3: After the Fall]]'' by [=FenrisMarine=]
* Recommended by: thatdude, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dea
* ''Pairing'': Paragon!Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis:'' A fanmade epilogue about what happen to the races stranded in the Sol system after the Destroy ending.
* ''Comments:'' Let's not beat around the bush here, the ending to ''Mass Effect 3'' was... [[GainaxEnding less then disirable]]. This fic however is not a FixFic but rather an attempt to at least salvage it. It gives us what the actual ending didn't: Closure, the aftermath of the war, and a [[BittersweetEnding somewhat happy ending]]. Its not perfect, but it's a lot better then what we got.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7987705/1/Mass_Effect_Circular Mass Effect: Circular]]'' by Gregg Landsman
* Recommended by: The Curator, @/USABobcat, @/UncloudedTJ, Vellaen
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis:'' From the man who brought us ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'' comes the epic continuation of the ''Mass Effect'' franchise. The ending of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was not the beginning of the end. It was not the end of the end. It was simply the end of the beginning.
* ''Pairing(s):'' None
* ''Tags:'' FixFic (sort of), MentalTimeTravel
* ''Warnings:'' YMMV strongly, as there is a bit of handwaving in the first chapter that some may find to be excessive. Additionally, if you are the 1% that liked the endings, Gregg has done away with them completely.
** Author's note: I actually ''do'' like the endings. -Gregg
* ''Comments:'' Imagine, if you will, Shepard being more badass then before. Then imagine that Gregg Landsman wrote about what happens given Shepard's newfound badassery. There is absolutely no way conceivable under the laws of the universe for this not to be awesome. And it is. It totally is. Also Javik meets a Hanar. HilarityEnsues.
** Also hosted on [[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/mass-effect-circular-thread-4-hanarjob.222818/ Spacebattles, with active member participation.]]
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''Fanfic/MassEffectEndOfDays'' By: Postmeat
* Recommended by: Omeganian
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated October 2018
* ''Synopsis'': Another "Different tech humanity" fanfic. In this one, humanity has no eezo at all. There are no relays near Earth. No Prothean tech. Humanity is forced to take its own path, compensating for inferior FTL speed with superior terraforming tech.
* ''Comments'': The author openly uses some concept from other universes, so, for example, while the First Contact with the Council goes smoothly enough, it's not humanity's true First Contact [[spoiler:That one was with the Blacklight Virus from ''{{VideoGame/Prototype}}'', which had to be taken out with the M.D. from ''Film/EndersGame'']]. A rare fic where Shepard is neither John nor Jane (he's Frank). The guy earns his War Hero background and N7 rank [[spoiler:[[RuleOfCool fighting off Batarians and Collectors alongside Wrex and Tali.]]]] Then he's sent to [[spoiler:find the Collectors... with Saren on his ship.]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9283111/1/Mass-Effect-The-Hopeless-War Mass Effect: The Hopeless War]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4414294/ProfFartBurger ProfFartBurger]]
* Recommended by: Extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis:'' ''"In the 21st century, the Batarian Hegemony discovers a beautifully violent species known as 'Humans'. After deciding to enslave the entire race, and turn them into their own personal slave warriors, the so-called Masters of War must go against the Makers of Slaves. But is it truly possible to combat an alien threat, when your own species can barely even leave its only home?"'' An AU interpretation of the First Contact War.
* ''Comments:'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Humanity is fighting a war it cannot win against the combined might of the galaxy, following the unilateral intervention of the Council. Despite herculean triumphs of anthropocentric badass-ery over the foul xenos in the early days of the war; the story ultimately boils down to individual survival at all costs in the face of an all-conquering alien juggernaut.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12115832/1/Mass-Effect-The-Iron-Heart-of-Man Mass Effect The Iron Heart of Man]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7484374/Apollonir Apollonir]]
* Recommended by Coalen1942
* ''Status'': On-going
* ''Synopsis'': [AU] The Illusive Man said that salvation comes with a cost. When corruption seeps into the galaxy, when centuries of status quo suddenly breaks in a mere decade, when blood's spilled among the stars like never before, when extinction looms over civilization, when morality is merely a shade... salvation can only come with sacrifice. [AU First Contact War & Reaper War; GRAPHIC]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5898628/1/Mass_Effect_Iron_Rebirth Mass Effect: Iron Rebirth]]'' by Mashadar
* Recommended by: Alamo, Joysweeper
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard's revival is necessarily much earlier than canon, and the only way it can be done is by putting his functional brain into a YMIR mech chassis, with all the baggage that implies.
* ''Comments'': You know, when I recommend a fic, the highest praise I can give it is that even though I may not be a fan of what it's based of of, I still enjoyed the fic. This is one of those. I have never played either of the ''Mass Effect'' games and have only a passing knowledge of the universe, but still found this to be a great read. The writing is competent, the dialogue well written, the key ploy point intriguing, and the storyline well done. I highly recommend this.
** Hnn. I felt like this got off to a very promising start -- I'm a sucker for BrainInAJar -- but as the chapters went on the grammatical mistakes, overuse of names in conversations, and run-on sentences started to get to me. Besides, the recurring talk of this permanence started annoying me -- what, is it so hard to put fingers on these mechs? I'll look for further chapters, but I have a sense of wasted potential here.
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''Fanfic/MassEffectInterregnum'' by The Naked Pen
* Recommended by: Altercation, Spark Moon, randomfanboy, Javier, Joysweeper, sushemi, valbinooo, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Focuses on Garrus's days between [=ME1=] and 2, initially set about four months after Shepard's death at the hands of the Collectors, detailing how he met and put together his team to fight crime. Those seeking fluff need not apply.
* ''Comments'': Without a doubt, one of the best fanfictions detailing Garrus's months in Omega. The characterization of Garrus is perfect, to use a better word, genuine. There's really no question on how much The Naked Pen captured Garrus's personality, his dark wit and constant second-guessing and wraps it all up in a central plot point concerning an incredibly powerful ship. Highly recommended.
** Word. As someone who's totally burnt out on the romantic fluff stuff as far as anything involving Garrus goes, this story is a much needed breath of fresh air. In this troper's opinion, it's ''criminal'' this story hasn't gotten more attention.
** The tragedy element of the story is heartwrenching as well. You know how it'll all end, so seeing Sidonis and Garrus becoming TrueCompanions (with some very effective writing) will hurt you.
** I agree with all of the above. The Naked Pen obviously really loves and understands Garrus and the ''Mass Effect'' universe, and its good to see a good writer writing something more like the games in tone than most of the rest of the fandom does. The only downside is that the updating is quite slow, but it's well worth the waits.
** Possibly my favorite ME fanfic. Extraordinarily well written action, brilliant world building, wonderful sense of voice from Garrus, excellently conceived characters/personalities-- all together, a joy to read. Try it out, and I don't believe that anybody will find it a waste of time.
** Unlike one of the above tropers, I like fluff. But I also liked this. Garrus seems very in-character, and even if the cyborg volus was eyebrow-raising, the constant snark back and forth is fun.
** Incredibly good, almost suspiciously so. I'm not entirely sure that The Naked Pen isn't really one of the writers from Bioware who types this out in their spare time.
** A minor but consistently-annoying quibble is that the author refers to every gun as firing "[[EnergyWeapon energy bolts]]" instead of [[KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter bullets]], when the series makes it very clear they're using kinetic weaponry and not energy. It's an otherwise glaring fault in a fic as well-researched as this one.
*** The author refers to them as bullets pretty much exclusively after chapter 13 and, even then, "[[EnergyWeapon energy bolt]]" isn't an unfair description of small chips of metal going at significant fractions of the speed of light.
** Quite possibly [[@/{{Alynnidalar}} my]] favorite ME fic as well. Garrus is extremely well-characterized, and the large cast of characters (there's eleven other people on his squad, after all!) is handled surprisingly well. It's partly serious, especially considering that we all already know how it's going to end (made all the more poignant by the fact that [[spoiler:Sidonis is actually a pretty cool guy in the fic, having an almost younger brother relationship with his sort-of mentor Garrus]]), but balances that with absolutely hilarious sequences. There's a cyborg volus. There's snide but not overly obnoxious digs at some of the stranger aspects of the games, such as the seemingly bulletproof couches in Garrus' base and Shepard's habit of constantly visiting nightclubs. There's a ship called the SSV Starf***er. Cannot possibly recommend enough if you like Garrus at ''all.''
*** The author has also written one very well-done spin-off called ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7205745/1/Omega_Noire Omega Noire]]''. In it, Garrus tries to investigate a murder, struggling against the rampant corruption and apathy of Omega to find the facts. It's a good classic "noir" style mystery with influences and homages from many classic mysteries, yet manages to fit in well with the image of Omega the author created in Interregnum. And it's just plain cool to see Garrus putting his detective skills to work.
** This is possibly the only ''Mass Effect'' Fanfic I've read that is a contender for the prestige of being better than canon. Seriously, if your browsing through this page looking for something other than Slash Fic or yet another "retelling" of [=ME1=] or [=ME2=], click the link already.
** Agreed; the actual ''Mass Effect'' novels pale in comparison in both prose and plot quality. However, the opening two sections ("Alpha and Omega" and "Divine Intervention") are somewhat directionless and generally less good than the later arcs (though still pretty damn good compared to both the average fic and the official novels). Readers turned off by them might want to start with 'Sanctuary' to see how good the fic can be.
*** Contrary to the above troper, I actually enjoyed the first two arcs far more than the ones succeeding it. However, the later arcs, though significantly shorter, are still exceedingly well done, even if they aren't quite as engaging. That being said this is possibly the best written fic I've ever read, so there's that too.
** Basically this should be required reading for the fandom
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9892740/1/Mass-Effect-A-Measure-of-Salvation Mass Effect: A Measure of Salvation]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4786538/Mal-Cobb Mal Cobb]]
* Recommended by: Looks Awesome
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated May 2020
* ''Synopsis'': With the Reapers closing in, Miranda Lawson understands well the magnitude of the threat. But as she breaks free from Cerberus and navigates the perils of a fracturing Systems Alliance, can she reconcile the operative she once was with the woman who's fallen for Commander Shepard? An AU of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''.
* ''Pairings'': M!Shep/Miranda
* ''Comments'': What makes this fic stand out to me is the rewritten narrative (the internal contradictions and inconsistencies of that game still rankle me to this day) coupled with new, writer-created material that complements and enhances that canon content that is preserved or otherwise not excised. The pacing is fluid, the narrative is immersive, the setting is dynamic, and the dialogue is engaging. I still go back and read my favorite passages time and time again. 100% recommendation.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8643329/1/Mass-Effect-Mistakes-Worth-Sharing Mass Effect: Mistakes Worth Sharing]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/WildGoose
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Just four ups and downs a very special Turian feels are worth sharing. General Garrus Vakarian gives the commencement address to the first post-Reaper War graduating class at the Cipritine Hill Services Academy.
* ''Comments'': ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A commencement address is a tremendously boring thing, but the author of Exoria manages to perfectly capture Garrus' voice and make this address something from the heart, at the same time showing the reader how Garrus has grown throughout the three ''Mass Effect'' games.
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''Fanfic/MassEffectMurphysLaw'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/~TacoWrath TacoWrath]]
* Recommended by: Joint Reflex 39
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Tags'': Graphic violence and explicit language.
* ''Synopsis'': Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Ain't that the cold, hard truth. When everything inevitably does go wrong, strong men and women get to work and refuse to accept any other outcome, no matter how bleak. As those men and women, we'll be running into a lot more questions than answers, but then again... scientific minds thrive off discovery and problem-solving.
* ''Comments'': An interesting fic that takes a few renaissance men from our time and throws them into the future. In a more interesting take on the self-insert, in this universe the ''Mass Effect'' games do not exist, leaving it as the actual future the characters gradually mold with their innovations. Great characterization (OC and canon) carries this fic, along with great, detail-focused science and sci-fi references that seemingly aim to push SlidingScale/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness from a 4 to a 4.5. In the end, the story boils down to the importance of family and friendship, without getting preachy or forgetting what makes ''Mass Effect'' entertaining.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8925184/1/Mass-Effect-Reloaded Mass Effect Reloaded]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4388544/thebluninja theblueninja]], or Troper/BlueNinja0
* Recommended by: lurkbbs, @/UncloudedTJ
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': Facing the Catalyst, Adept Jane Shepard takes the Kirk path, and cheats. Thrown back in time to the very start of her Spectre career, can she actually save the entire galaxy from the Reapers, or will everything end up the same despite her knowledge of the future? Shakarian shipping.
** ''New Synopsis'': Is a second chance enough? Instead of the Catalyst's choices, Shepard lucks into a cosmic loophole. Thrown back to the very start of her Spectre career, she has to try and save the galaxy again from the Reapers... but does she really know what's coming?
* ''Comments'': One of the rarest PeggySue fanfics where main character tries to changes everything from the very beginning, without some "want to know the future so will do things exactly as before" crap. Excellent language, on par and surpassing many professional writers. Fast-paced when needed, relaxing when needed, funny when needed, serious when needed. Good characterization, both canon and OC.
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''FanFic/MassVexations'' by Tropers/HerrWozzeck
* Recommended by: SithkingZero, Catheri
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Vexations. Music of Erik Satie. Somehow, it transported me to the ''Mass Effect'' universe. Might as well make the best of it, and by that I mean help the crew stop Saren and the Geth, all without telling my real origins. Self-insert. Kaidan/Shepard."
* ''Comments'': '''''THE''''' ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert fanfiction on the internet. As far as I'm concerned, the ''only'' one. While self-inserts are dime-a-dozen, this story is in defiance of Sturgeon's law. Well-written, the main character is not a SelfInsert, the interactions feel totally natural, and all-around greatness. Now, in interest of fairness, it does have its negative points. The main character, Art, tends to go off on rants about things that the author feels strongly about. The first story is merely okay, while the sequel is far improved in terms of storytelling capability. However, those aren't enough to take away how good this story is. Has three sequels: Mass Vexations 2 (covering the second ''Mass Effect'' game), and Mass Vexations 3.
** I thought this story was not enjoyable at all. The protagonist is highly unlikable (not to mention borderlines on a [[GodModeSue God Mode Stu]] status at times, or too close to it for my liking), Art's [[WriterOnBoard random rants]] take me more out of the story than the rest of it already does, the story stretches even the most sturdy suspensions of disbelief-and not in a good way- and it's a chore to read even in some of the more funnier moments (which there are few). Unless it's somehow either a cleverly disguised {{Deconstruction}} and/or a StealthParody of self-insert fics in general, then pass.
*** The above opinion represents this troper's opinion of Mass Vexations 3, but will admit that the first one is by far the best. the dialog feels somewhat flat, the characters repeat a few phrases not suited to them, and there are some choices made in [=MV3=] that are just flat-out annoying (No examples will be given, to prevent spoilers).
*** I second this fic. I enjoyed Art's rants and didn't find any of the [[GodModeSue God Mode Stu]] issues that the above poster did as it seemed more of a case of EarnYourHappyEnding. In my opinion, it is definitely worth reading as I finished the first one awhile ago and am now spending my current break catching up on the sequels, which are turning out to be even better so far. A definite recommend and a must-read for anyone who loves ME fanfiction or needs to have their faith restored when it comes to {{Self Insert}}s.
*** I agree with the above, this fic is just not enjoyable. It only ranks above the 90% for having proper spelling and grammar, which is rare enough in fanfics. The self-insert is unlikable (he's very egocentric and randomly gets angry at people ''for acting exactly as they do in canon''). The random rants don't help, nor does the fact that it follows canon like a traintrack. No attempts whatsoever to alter the plot in the slightest, either through the character's actions or the writer's creativity. If I wanted to read a novelization of ''Mass Effect'', I'm sure I can find one without an annoying self-insert getting in the way.
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''FanFic/MassesToMasses'' by Tropers/{{Inf3ctionz}}
* Recommended by: S3ek, [=GoneRampant=], [=XxChronOblivionxX=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "After a freak event sends me into the ME universe 2 years before [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 [=ME1=]]], I find myself working at C-Sec. As if dealing with serial killers, drug smugglers, and Garrus Vakarian wasn't enough, I need to work out why I was sent here, and I need to survive."
* ''Comments'': A ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert that feature an UnlikelyHero: Ian [[spoiler: Shaw]], a British law student with very little in the way of training for detective work or a military operation. [[TookALevelInBadass He learns]]. Better yet, this story starts two years '''before''' the start of ''Mass Effect''. The first of the series begins before ''Mass Effect 1'' where Ian is Garrus' partner as a detective, the second begins when Garrus and Ian meet Shepard on the Citadel and features the events of the game, and the third installment begins with the destruction of the Normandy and features Ian's escapades as Deadpool, part of Archangel's crew. It's one of the most popular ''Mass Effect'' self-inserts, rivaling the fame of ''Fanfic/MassVexations''.
** One of my favourite ''Mass Effect'' fanfics, period. Ian's FirstPersonSmartass narration makes the fanfic hilarious, action packed and essential to any fanfic reader. Also has a spinoff, Masses To Masses Zero, which focuses on Garrus a day before Ian shows up while Garrus is on a case.
--> '''Ian Shaw (has) done gotten himself more famous than Arnold Schwarzenegger's pecs.''' -- [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2394869/Sarge1995 Sarge1995]]
--> '''Masses To Masses is the fanfiction equivalent of the Avengers movie-brilliant, action packed and hilarious throughout with a deep story and awesome plot-twists.''' -[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2604489/Gone_Rampant Gone Rampant]]
** And to prove that this has replaced ''Mass Vexations'' as '''the''' essential ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert, ''Masses To Masses'' as a series has more reviews on Fanfiction.Net then ''Mass Vexations'', and more reviews per story.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4813253/1/Mind_Over_Matter Mind Over Matter]]'' by eyyowlf
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''The adventures of the first human Spectre, the Butcher of Torfan, the son of Mindoir. Mild au for original subplots and sidequests. Ruthless Vanguard with concentration on biotics, aliens, milSF, and secondary crew.'' Pretty much an AU take on the first ''Mass Effect'' game, featuring a male Shepard.
* ''Comments'': Man. There are no words to accurately describe this fic. It's one of those ones that has so much stuff going on in it, it *has* to be read to be fully appreciated. The starring Shepard is such a jerkass, but a likable one to this troper. Seriously, find the time to sit down and read this if you can.
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''[[Fanfic/TheMiracleAtPalaven The Miracle at Palaven]]'' by Sudentor
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' The Miracle At Palaven is the biggest OffscreenMomentOfAwesome in the game. This story opts to flesh it out, giving a theoretical account as written from a historical in-universe document. Do you believe in miracles?
** As for the kind of playthrough that was done, the Geth and the Quarians are both alive, even in the aftermath of the events that would take place in the game.
* ''Tags'': Violence and language.
* ''Comments:'' Definitely worth a read. It gives a great take on the events and highlights the kinds of things that would have to be done and what could go wrong, and the kinds of badass it takes to overcome that sort of adversity. My favorite chapter so far was the one on the ''Bosh'tet Express''.
** The author Kei is also known as [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/48629/Sudentor Sudentor]] on FF.net, whose equally fantastic ''Order Upon Chaos'' and ''Mistakes Worth Sharing'' are recced above.
** The [[JustForFun/XMeetsY best way to describe this story]] is, simply put, ''Franchise/MassEffect'' meets ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', written in the style of ''Series/BandOfBrothers''.
*** The author also takes what was a throwaway line in [=ME3=]'s emails, [[spoiler: Kal'Reegar dying while defending repairs to a comm antenna]], and turns it into a ManlyTears-inducing heroic LastStand. And it is '''awesome'''.
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''Fanfic/MockEffect'' by Mister Buch
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}, @/{{Firebert}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Jane Shepard was being promoted as a 'Sub-Spectre' much to her humiliation as her psychotic brother John Shepard was promoted as a Spectre. She has to save the galaxy from not only the incompetent, unoriginal villains like Saren and Unicron... sorry Sovereign, but also from her crazy ass brother from trashing up the galaxy with his try hard [[JerkAss Renegade]] attitude.
* ''Comments'': A nice parody that digs deep into plot-holes, cliche, spotlighting the flaws like how the renegade options are blatantly childish and bad textured load ups. This parody was so popular there's a 10 page dedication to this fan fiction on the [[http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=633141&forum=123&sp=0 official Mass Effect]] forums before the moderators shut it down due to bad server technology. Sadly it's in script format so the webmasters of the [[Website/FanFictionDotNet ff.net]] had to take it down much to the fans annoyance. Fortunately one of the fans [[BigDamnHeroes jumped in to save the day]] by creating a another ''Mass Effect'' fan fiction site for Mr. Buch to host it. You can still check it out by clicking on the above link.
** Not a good idea to read it if you like... any of the characters, really. The author seems to hate them all.
*** Except for [[MrFanservice Kaidan]].
*** No, Kaidan gets it too. He's a complete idiot, like every other character.
** I personally found the story to be little more than an annoying RevengeFic.
** This editor disagrees, it's a humorous story, you don't have to hate the game to find it funny.
** The sheer number of details mocked suggest that the author played the game in depth, at least a few times. It's unlikely that anyone would bother to do so with a game he/she doesn't like. Probably just a very ''serious'' case of AccentuateTheNegative.
** Some people may find the overly negative stuff funny, but this was just one of the more flat-out insufferable "humor" fics to read IMO.
** [[@/{{Alynnidalar}} I'll]] throw in my two cents on this one. This fic lampshades a lot of (apparent) plot holes and characterization issues from the first game. If you can maintain your sense of humor throughout the whole thing, parts are absolutely hilarious, but it does get vicious at times, and is likely to make you rageface at least once or twice when there's a perfectly sensible in-story explanation for a supposed plot hole that is mocked. If you find it hard to read parodies or take rather vicious criticism of the game in stride, I'd advise you to avoid it. If, on the other hand, you're OK with that, read it and laugh your head off. In my opinion, I'm fairly certain it was written by someone who enjoyed the game (they know far too much about the inner workings of the game to actually hate it), so just keep that in mind. And it legitimately is hilarious most of the time--in particular, do ''not'' read the retelling of the moon mission while sitting in math class, as you ''will'' need to go running for the door lest you burst out laughing in the middle of a serious discussion on the Euclidean Algorithm or something. FWIW, I still think the fic is worth reading, just understand that ''every'' character is mocked heavily, with poor Tali likely getting the worst of it. There are ''no'' exceptions--everyone from the Council to Steve, the blond guy who salutes you every time you walk down the stairs in the Normandy, is mocked mercilessly.
** Bloody hilarious, and I say that as someone who loves the game. It is to [=ME1=] what "Yet Another KOTOR Parody" is to, well, KOTOR. Reading it made me realize just how much [=BioWare=]'s writing and production values improved between [=ME1=] and the other two games. Sadly, I didn't find the "unofficial" sequels to live up to the original.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4871680/1/New_Friends New Friends]]'' by Mister Buch
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard is a 16 year-old penniless petty thief living on Earth. She starts running with the 10th Street Reds and finds a new life for herself. When the gang plans to assassinate a Turian veteran she has to find the great strength she has been ignoring.
* ''Comments'': A detailed backstory for the Earthborn profile. It explores the dark underbelly in the streets of Earth, alien racism and prejudice with biotics. Brilliant attention to the settings of the world, a steady pacing and a interesting POV of a young Shepard who is a child on the verge of becoming an adult. A must read if you like ''Mass Effect'' fics.
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''[[http://social.bioware.com/721659/blog/4962/ Noir Tali Is Noir]]'' by [[http://social.bioware.com/721659 NuclearBuddha]] and [[http://social.bioware.com/318855 RiptideX1090]]
* Recommended by: Cinereous, pcy623
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': ''The rain came down like bullets, each leaving a raw mark on my suit. I couldn't feel them, not with the suit. Then again, I'd stopped feeling things like that a long time ago. Two years ago. The ''Normandy.''''
* ''Comments'': As the title says, a story written in FilmNoir style, a look at Tali and her life during the two years after the destruction of the ''SSV Normandy.'' A DarkerAndEdgier story that paints an incredibly depressing look at what it is to be a quarian in a [[CrapsackWorld galactic society that despises them]]. This is a Tali who is full of [[TranquilFury quiet anger]], hardened, bitter, and numb to the world, an empty shell whose one source of happiness was snuffed out two years ago. The two authors have created a story that fits amazingly well within canon events and truly takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. (Note: To read this story and view the authors' profiles/blogs, you must sign up for an account on the [[http://social.bioware.com Bioware social boards]]).
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928020/1/Mass_Effect_Order_Upon_Chaos Order Upon Chaos]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: owlbot, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': The publication of the Precipice Archives Report for the Third Citadel detailing the events since five billion years ago, how the attempt to save life led to its cyclic destruction, and how this affected the galaxy five billion years later.
* ''Comments'': Written in the form of salvaged transcripts, documents, and messages recovered almost a millennium after the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', ''Order Upon Chaos'' chronicles the origin of the Reapers, explaining how they went from [[DisasterDemocracy a democratic body]] [[MessianicArchetype trying to save one civilization after another]], to [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremists]], to {{eldritch abomination}}s. The story is difficult to pick up at first, for the transcripts can be dense, confusing, and not immediately obvious, but it rolls elegantly along once it truly picks up speed, and gracefully shows how the initial, desperate attempt to ensure life goes on in the galaxy slowly transforms into the horrifying cycles of extinction we associate with the Reapers today, as well as the beginnings of the enigmatic characters [[spoiler:Harbinger and the Catalyst]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6096040/1/Progress_Reimagined Progress Reimagined]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2419706/urapente urapente]]
* Recommended by: Cinereous
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Some vague hints of (Male) Shepard/Tali, onesided Prazza/Tali, but this is not a shipping fic.
* ''Synopsis'': A greatly expanded novelization of the initial meeting on Freedom's Progress between Shepard, his Cerberus squadmates, and Tali's team.
* ''Comments'': The author turns what was a quick thirty minute intro mission into a multi-chapter story that showcases Tali and how she has matured and become a cynical, darker character after the events of [=ME1=]. Make no mistake: though the viewpoint character is Shepard, Tali is definitely the protagonist of this story. The initial meeting between the two is handled much more realistically than in-game, and Prazza's anger at and eventual betrayal of her are explored in serious depth, ending in a climax that chilled this troper to the bone. If you're tired of a Tali that is written as [[{{Flanderization}} nothing but]] a blushing moeblob whose entire world revolves around Shepard, this is a welcome change of pace. Coincidentally, the general atmosphere and feel of the story is shockingly similar to ''[[http://social.bioware.com/721659/blog/4962/ Noir Tali Is Noir]]'' (which this troper also recommended) despite being written independently of each other. The author himself has high praise for that story on his [[http://urapente.deviantart.com/journal/39502402 Deviantart journal]].
** (There is also an alternate version of Chapter 2 told from Tali's point of view [[http://urapente.deviantart.com/art/Reflections-Of-Progress-Tali-162407780 here]] on the author's Deviantart gallery.)
** This Troper personally found that Shepard was thinking a wee bit too much about Tali considering he was in the middle of a combat situation. Also, the whole eye-implants deal felt like a red herring.
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''Fanfic/ProjectDelta'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/8887404/5th-Legion 5th Legion]]
* Recommended by: Omeganian
* Status: Complete, sequel in progress.
* ''Synopsis'': What do you get if, like the Crucible, throughout the eons, the races were working on a set of combat implants? What do you get if these implants, with all the pain of these races, were given to a human infant girl? What do you get when this girl is given the background of Subject Zero? You get... Jane.
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''Fanfic/ProjectGethinator'' by [=500MetricTonnesofPalladium=]
* Recommended by: @/TwoGunAngel
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing(s):'' Tali/Shepard again
* ''Synopsis:'' The sequel to ''Inglorious Bosh'tets''. Tali is back on the Normandy with Shepard, Garrus and a new crew, but it seems that the universe hasn't quite finished with her yet, as more craziness follows their every step.
* ''Comments:'' Another well-written fic from the mind behind ''Inglorious Bosh'tets''. This one is more of a mystery plot than the utter craziness of ''Bosh'tets'', but still with a good deal of fun.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Q-Z]]
''[[https://fextralife.com/forums/t358113/tldr-the-really-really-really-long-version-of-how-id-cast-cerberus-as-frenemies-in-me3/?sid=42e2f1ea43db3b019b745ca14102aab9 The Really, Really, Really long version of How I'd cast Cerberus...]]'' by Dean_the_Young
* Recommended by: arcanephoenix
* ''Synopsis'': A reinterpretation and sort-of rewriting of Cerberus's role in ''Mass Effect 3'' and it's effects on the plot as a whole.
* ''Comments'': It may take an hour to read, but it is fully worth your time. The man has essentially rewritten ''Mass Effect 3'' while maintaining internal consistency, no mean feat. It is calm, precise and quite beautifully put together. While I liked how the trilogy ended in canon, I would have seriously loved this.
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''Fanfic/RenegadeReinterpretations'' by College Fool
* Recommended by: [=AngelOfBlood=], Grant[[note]] How ''Mass Effect'' ''should'' have been[[/note]], Vellaen, Macsauce, @/GentlemensDame883, The Anguished One
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': This fic is one massive AU Fic, in which Relay 314 was discovered by the Batarians, not the Turians, and humanity, and the galaxy are radically changed, forever. To quote the first chapter, "This is the darkest century of human history. This is the catalyst that changed and defined the Human race as it emerged upon the galactic stage. This is not a happy story, or a story of glory, or even a particularly pleasant one. It is, at heart, a Renegade's story, of one race rising up defying a galaxy's expectations."
* '' Comments'': Words cannot describe the fic. It just has to be read to be believed. It's dark, and will toss your already conceived viewpoints out the window. It's obvious that the author did a LOT of thinking about consequences, and how they will affect the universe in general.
** YMMV -- Be warned this isn't a traditional fic but more like a history book of an alternate universe, with no real dialogue or characterizations.
** It also has a very interesting re-imagining of the SuicideMission. Here, it's [[DoWellButNotPerfect not possible to]] [[NoOneLeftBehind save everyone]] like it is in the real [=ME2=], but each character has more opportunities to show off their badassery.
** A curious thought experiment, with realistic reactions and details that makes humanity truly terrifying in a galaxy that is increasingly insane and brutal. Imagine a bit of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', ''Franchise/MassEffect'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', and give all of those an underdog mentality and you'd gave something not unlike this story.
** The problem with the story is that it reads as an outline, complete with "If the player chooses so and so option then so and so happens". The ideas are interesting, but YMMV, since it isn't really a story per say. It would be interesting if people wrote stories in that universe though.
** Honestly the fic is brilliant during the 40+ chapters of backstory which are as said earlier a very well written historical document. Once the events of the games start suddenly the fic starts looking like a game design document and is much less fun to read.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8011857/1/Mass-Effect-3-Same Same]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: Murus
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Ashley Williams rejoins the Normandy crew and runs into the last person she wants to see, the embodiment of frustration, guilt, and regret, of what she could've been and should've been.
* ''Comments'': Takes place immediately following Ashley's return to the Normandy in [=ME3=]. This one-shot describes her awkward meeting with Garrus, and does so excellently -- capturing the character of both Ashley and Garrus, and with thought to how their history would shape this reunion.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/787740 A Sea of Stars]]'' series by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/IndefeasibleZed/pseuds/IndefeasibleZed IndefeasibleZed]] & [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/SomethingProfound/pseuds/SomethingProfound SomethingProfound]]
* Reccomended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status:'' Ongoing (11 works so far, 7 complete, 4 in progress)
* ''Synopsis:'' Follows the career and life of Spacer background Emilia Shepard, beginning as a young lieutenant during the Skyllian Blitz, through all three games.
* ''Comments:'' This is an extremely well-written series which focuses heavily on realism, showing the inner military workings of the Alliance in general and Shepard's command in particular, along with being a seldom-seen example of Shepard as a woman of color. While not overly smutty, it does go into a fair amount of detail with Shepard and Ashley's relationship, not shying away from the difficulties and worries each has about the potential fallout if they're discovered. It also shows an intriguing look behind the scenes at how Hackett and the Alliance brass intended to handle the repercussions of Shepard's actions at Bahak.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6128675/1/Second Second]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Salty Wound, Ghastdream, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': When Shepard is off the ship, the squad begins to chafe under Miranda's command. They look to Garrus to replace her as XO, but Garrus isn't sure mutiny is the answer.
* ''Comments:'' Going in to this, you might be expecting a a Miranda bashing buffet. Unless you really are looking for that, you will be pleasantly surprised. This fic provides two of the best Miranda and Garrus characterizations I've ever read. Miranda starts out very jerky, but she begins to [[DefrostingIceQueen defrost]] without becoming a doormat for the others to wipe their feet on. Garrus shows himself to be a very capable [[spoiler: mediator]], without losing his tactical demeanor or his wry sense of humor. Also an [[spoiler: entirely Shepard-less fic]], which, in my opinion, adds to its strength. [[spoiler: His influence]] still shows however, especially in the mini [[spoiler: TwistEnding]].
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/121097 The Selfish Gene]]'' by Buggirl
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Miranda is dealing with some personal issues. Will she open up to someone about her problems, or will she remain the 'Ice Queen' that everybody has labelled her?''
* ''Comments'': Centered around a particular ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' dossier spoiler that divided Miranda's fanbase, this story tackles an extremely sensitive issue with aplomb and the utmost care. This is especially notable, as it [[RealitySubtext draws from the author's own experiences]] on the issue while still keeping the characters -especially Miranda- in character. By far one of the more poignant and thoughtful fan fics I've read in the fandom, in my opinion.
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''Fanfic/OfSheepAndBattleChicken'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3873840/LogicalPremise LogicalPremise]]
* Recommended by: [=KhaosKyuubi=], [=RapidR3dr=], [=Katkiller-V=]
* Status: Completed -- with two sequels, one already completed, the other starting on [=ME2=].
* Pairing: While romance is not the primary focus of the fic there is quite a bit of emphasis placed on a few couples Mostly [=FemShep=]/Liara, but there is some Joker/Tali in the background if you squint ''REALLY'' hard. Later works firm up the Joker/Tali, Chakwas/OC, and Garrus/OC.
* ''Synopsis'': My AU retelling of [=ME1=], with a darker feel. The evolution of a dangerous renegade with zero personality and all the empathy of a car tire to a real person, and changing the story of [=ME1=] so that it's better shaped to fit a darker, more Paragade universe and a more realistic view of Cerberus and the Citadel Council. Pairing is [=FShep=]/Liara. M rating for graphic violence.
* ''Comments'': A masterfully-written and dark novelization of the first game with several sequels planned. This is not just a fic but an entire AU thought up and thoroughly fleshed-out by the Author. Easily one of the best fanfictions out there and definetly on par with Melaradark's Dark Energy series, and in the humble opinion of this Troper, surpasses it in terms of quality. If you have finished Melaradark's fics and are looking for some more delicious ''Mass Effect'' fanfiction, along with a rich AU to sink your teeth into, this will more than satisfy your appetite. Manages an excellent balance between Action, tender, fluffy moments, great character interactions, and pretty good humor. Highly recommended.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7160279/1/The-Siege-of-Shanxi The Siege of Shanxi]]'': by Made Nightwing
* Recommended by: survivor6861
* Status: Completed
* ''Synopsis'':In 2157, the Turian Hierarchy shocked the Council species by commencing a sudden and illegal war against a new race, known only as 'Humans'. This is the story of Shanxi's third Garrison Division, and their fight for survival, and freedom.
* ''Comments'': A well written, in-progress piece, about the Relay 314 incident and how humanity met its first live alien species. Focuses on various viewpoints that include human and Turian soldiers and leaders. Written before the release of the ''Mass Effect: Evolution'', it expands on the Siege of Shanxi and how humanity and Turians fought each others in the skies and mud of Shanxi. Also expands on viewpoints of notorious characters from ''Mass Effect''[='=]s background that include General Williams, Jon Grissom, Saren Arterius and The Illusive Man himself.
** Definately worth a look -- given the author's love of tropes and many direct references to Website/TVTropes, I'm shocked it has no page of its own. The story is not for everyone -- still a few lingering grammatical errors and missing words -- but given its size, that's expected. What gets me is the sheer scope of what the author is going after, which includes side fics to accompany the main work that expand on cultures, Cerberus, economics, even biotics.
** In many ways, this is a far superior exploration of pivotal moment in human history, than what the offical canon tells us. Whilst being authentic to the lore and mythos of the ''Mass Effect'' universe, this story explores the scale and scope of full blown battle, and is able to zoom in on the intimate aspects of this event. This story explores Shanxi from both sides of the battle, detailing their travails, their tactics, their strategies and their conundrumns.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1004203?view_full_work=true The Sound of Light]]'' by nightside
* Recommended by: @/DragonByte
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': The Reaper War has ended after Shepard chose Synthesis. Varinnia, a Turian woman stranded on Chesed, can either stay stranded, or board a Reaper that wants her company.
* ''Pairings'': Eventual Turian Female OC/Reaper
* ''Comments'': My favorite synthesis ending story. It uses themes like religious fanaticism and discrimination in a very believable way, and the stream-of-consciousness mode of narration caters splendidly to the way the protagonist and her Reaper companion communicate. (Sequel to the one-shot, [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1003820 Stars]])
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''Spectre'' by Caine/Precept
* Recommended by: @/GentlemensDame883
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Synopsis'': John Shepard is a man haunted by ghosts. Can he rise above his past to save the galaxy?
* ''Pairing(s)'': Seems to be moving towards Shep/Tali.
* ''Comments'': A novelisation of the first game that the author really makes his own. While the plot doesn't diverge too greatly, it's in the character work that this shines, especially how the author depicts Shepard as struggling with his past rather than as canon's much less ambiguous hero.
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''Fanfic/SpiritOfRedemption'' by Myetel
* Recommended by: Esseresse, Vorkosigan, Tropers/SuperTulle
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "The Spectres fight against threats to both the galaxy and their families on Mindoir. Shepard/Garrus, multiple OCs, largely expanded universe."
* ''Comments'':
** This Fic Has replaced canon for me, It has over 3.09 MILLION words and it's not over yet!
*** ps any help with the Website/TVTropes page for this Fic is welcome and needed.
** This is a monster of a fiction. Clocking in at 3.2 millions words (or thereabouts), it covers from just past the Reaper War to about ten years after. As the previous troper mentioned, this has replaced canon for me. The sheer scope of it combined with the technical skills (no misspellings, two to three new languages that at least seem internally consistent, and a very well thought out plot with tons of OCs) make this my new favorite fic on the Citadel.
** Tropers/SuperTulle: I have some minor nitpicks with this, such as how the author mixes up the cipher and the conduit, but the author herself admits that it's not perfect. And I love it anyway. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss the time it takes to read 3,404,794 words goodbye, and I promise you it will be worth it. It's an amazing AU story. Do note however, that Myetel started writing it long before [=ME3=] came out, and didn't play it until after chapter 141 had already been written.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7630419/1/Storytellers Storytellers]]'' by [=IphigeniaWrites =]
* Recommended by: Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': After the war against the Reapers, Shepard's story is a legend. After the war, many people across different species tell her story... in their own ways.
* ''Comments'': It's an original idea and decently executed. It's interesting to see how all the aliens tell (and outright ''[[UnreliableNarrator change]]'') the story to emphasize the parts their species cares the most about: the Krogan praise Shepard's worth in battle, the volus praise her skills in commerce...
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9279403/1/Stuck-in-a-World-of-Fiction Stuck in a World of Fiction]]'' and the sequel ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10627352/1/Surviving-a-World-of-Fiction Surviving a World of Fiction]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3199292/TREBOR117 Trebor117]]
* Recommended by: heroman45, Toothless is best, general-joseph-dickson, Ford B, [=WAEGirl=]
* Status: First Story is complete, sequel is dormant (last updated May 2018).
* ''Synopsis'': Self insert. A man wakes up on Eden Prime with heavy amnesia, biotics, unexplained training. Taking the alias Jason Bourne after another amnesiac killer, he joins Shepard in her quest to stop the reapers. Along the way he'll make enemies, make friends, find romance, and have to make a lot of choices. The sequel, ''Surviving a World of Fiction'', continues the story of the first,though if you want to skip to the second game he provides a fairly decent synopsis of the first game. It also has a [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10067853/1/Users-in-a-World-of-Fiction midquel between the stories]] in the form of a crossover with the "Users" series by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3928220/Starspike7 Starspike 7]]
* ''Comments'':
** This story is one of the best Self Inserts on the site, and full of humor, yet also has a serious plot and lots of twists. There are a couple that seem kinda Dues Ex Machinaish, but over all it works well. The author actually wrote out the entire story, before rebooting it and rewriting it into the version linked too above.
** While the crossover isn't required reading for the sequel, it will help you get many of the jokes, and gives more character development to Bourne. The whole series is highly recommended by this troper, as is Spike's separate Users series. Despite being SIs, the two authors manage to avoid most of the usual tropes and cliches, while keeping just enough of them to stay entertaining.
** This story is one that you'll love, or you'll hate. Personally, I go with the former.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7383486/1/Survivors Survivors]]'' by dragondrewversion2
* Recommended by: [=TheJabawack=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': Four strangers; a human, a krogan, a turian, and a quarian; are stranded in London during the Reaper invasion of Earth. Forced together through strange circumstances, they'll need to work together if they hope to survive...
* ''Comments'': First of all a warning, this fic is centered around four OCs and there is no Shepard in sight, he is mentioned in passing by other characters when appropriate but he is not part of the story. That said, the characters feel real and their interactions are handled quite well. There is plenty of action and the banter between the characters is really good.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13535142/1/Tomorrow-s-Dawn-For-Tomorrow-trilogy-pt-2 Tomorrow's Dawn]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Hanz, SithkingZero, owlbot, Bustamouse, Murus, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After Legion was destroyed in a mission, Tali is assigned the duty of recovering its memories despite her hatred of the Geth. As she views the last few moments of Legion, she begins to understand why the others see it as one of their TrueCompanions as it proceeds to try and save it's squadmates.
* ''Comments'': Fascinating portrayal of Tali's hatred of Legion being tested. Likewise, it's also very interesting how the author portrays Legion as capable of extraordinary heroism [[spoiler:and ultimately, sacrifice]], though still in his ultra-logical fashion.
** One of the few fics that actually made me cry, and not just for Legion! Tali's growth was very well done. She blows up violently at Garrus when he and the rest of the crew mourn the Geth, plots to send Legion's remains back to the fleet, but stops because she made a promise to Shepard. Upon retrieving the data, [[spoiler:she sees that minutes before the battle where Legion was killed, Shepard learned from him that the Geth were willing to make peace with the Quarians, but just didn't know how to communicate it. And when the team was ambushed and completely helpless, Legion's programs voted to go on a suicide mission to save them, resulting in his destruction, losing the chance for peace forever.]] Tali's anguish over deciding to save Legion or give him to the fleet was heart-wrenching. This fic is also notable for having an alternate ending [[spoiler: that the author describes as a save-game where he went back and upgraded Legion's shields so the damage is not irreparable. Legion's interruption of a depressing after-action meeting got the tears flowing again. I'm a sucker for happy endings!]] While not as emotionally hard hitting as the original ending, it adds a lot of wonderful dialogue and shows how [[spoiler:even a Quarian and Geth can become friends.]] A marvelous read!
** I just don't understand why I didn't read this one earlier. I think I was worried about it making me sad. Which it did, but... not at all in the way I expected. This is a truly fantastic fic, with Tali and yes, even Legion, written very much in character. If you like either character at ''all,'' you have to read this. The poster above me has already mentioned a lot of the great things in it, but let me just say that whichever ending you consider canon (technically, the alternate ending did go on to be canon in the writer's universe, with an in-progress sequel that, while less emotional and somewhat less character-focused than Tomorrow's Dawn, follows logically on from the conclusion of this fic, still with the great characterization, now of all members of Shepard's squad (and a few outside it!)), both are fantastic. Both make me cry, although for very different reasons. Absolutely recommend this to everyone! --@/{{Alynnidalar}}
** Has a sequel spinning off from the alternate ending, where Tali manages to ''save'' Legion after reviewing his memories, titled [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6604741/1/For_Tomorrow_We_Die ''For Tomorrow We Die.'']] It's fantastic.
*** @/{{Murus}}: Agreed -- can't recommend it enough. One of the best fanfics I've ever read, hands-down.
** Just another nail hammering in the point that this is an exceptionally good fic, with accurate, lovable characterizations and ripping writing. This author's entire sequence of ME 2 fics might be the best I've ever read, and the plot of [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6604741/1/For_Tomorrow_We_Die ''For Tomorrow We Die.'']] is written with more passion and grounding in the Mass Effect universe than ME 3.
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''FanFic/TranscendentHumanity'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1935525/Solaris242 Solaris242]]
* Recommended by: midorigreen, Racheakt, @/USABobcat, @/UncloudedTJ
* ''Status'': Complete
* Synopsis: ''...And behind the defensive fleet, the true power of humanity. An occluded star, a supercomputer larger than worlds, filled with a trillion minds. Transcendent Humanity speaks as one, the force of their voice ripping through firewalls, absorbing language and codex, booming from every device capable aboard the Turian ships. This is Sol, the home of humanity. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.''
* ''Comments'': Humanity develops differently due to an early warning from the Protheans, and become a race of Uploaded AIs. In-progress, but highly interesting read with a dynamic take on how the Citadel would react to another race of AIs. Also, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Geth eating]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin toast]].
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/152460 The Uncounted]]'' by Moranth
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''A series of oneshots exploring what *might be* the motives and final moments of the mercs you encounter on many of the missions in ''Mass Effect 2''.
* ''Comments'': In a sea of hamfisted romantic fluff and tacky self-inserts, this is a concept that shows incredible promise. While it's only one chapter in -- and extremely short -- it manages to breathe life into a nameless mercenary and, in just under 700 words, gives him a character that may make you feel kinda bad for shooting him. Here's hoping for more in the future and that it's not another DeadFic already.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/41110044/chapters/103045620 Unexpected Alliances]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/ArtoosPlan/pseuds/ArtoosPlan ArtoosPlan]]
* Recommended by [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis'': The skies above Mindoir, 2170. Commander Hannah Shepard, temporarily in command of the ''SSV Einstein'', receives a request to open diplomatic relations from a heretofore unknown alien race...the Quarians.
* ''Comments'': A "Sheplings" fic, which as the synopsis makes clear, breaks from canon in some other major ways. It delves into the interesting question of how Humans and Quarians both could have benefitted if two 'outsider' species became allied, but follows the story of the first game fairly closely aside from that. Has a subplot of John/Tali and has begun to tease Jane/Garrus, though nothing has really happened with either as yet
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12574777/1/Uplifted Uplifted]]'' and its sequel ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12591430/1/Uplifted-Intervention Uplifted: Intervention]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
* Recommended by: Magyareagle, Valarshran
* ''Status''
** ''Uplifted'': Complete
** ''Intervention'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': AU: Desperate for an end to the exile, now in its forty seventh year, the Quarians decide on a last audacious plan to help them destroy the Geth. However, January 1942 in occupied Russia might not be the best place for first contact with humanity... Eventual Tali/Shep
* ''Comments'': Both fics complete. These stories explore what happens when the desperate Quarians decide to Uplift Humanity in the middle of the Second World War. When Hanala Jarva crash lands on earth during a survey mission, she makes a historic first contact that has radical implications for Humanity. Unfortunately, the Quarians are not fully aware of just who they are choosing to uplift. A brilliant and detailed alternate history written by someone who has a clear grasp of the events and personalities involved, [=DarkDanny=] avoids the mistake most fanfic authors make when writing alternate histories by going back to beginning and going from there. He ultimately plans to write a series chronicling three generations of Quarians and Humans, with the final series focusing on Shepard and Tali, something that I am quite certain he will accomplish. Glimpses into the future are told through a series of interludes that do not detract from the brilliant story at the center of it. Anyone with an interest in good storytelling or alternate history will love this, in large part due to the complex characters. Fair warning though, given the time period, many of the human characters are sexist and racist, and realistically ignorant of what is going on around them. This in turn makes for a much better story.
** The author does address the Holocaust in the series though not until the second book. Given the period when it is set, it makes sense, since the Final Solution did not begin until 1942. This makes story all the more chilling when you hear men like Himmler discuss exactly what they are planning. Kudos to the author for avoiding the black and white characterization of historical figures that often happens in stories about the period. There are bright points even within the German High command, most notable Rommel. Historical figures include Mad Jack Churchill, Erwin Rommel, Bill Donovan and Otto Skorzeny.
** I was suspicious of the premise at first but it grew on me. I'm Jewish, so any story that has a nazi protagonist is automatically suspect in my eyes. But the story proved me wrong. The characters are both sympathetic and yet true to their personalities. Joachim Hoch is on the one hand an anti-Semitic bastard, on the other he is decent man who begins to change his views once he realizes the crimes of the regime he supports. Other characters share a similar duality. I think the best part is seeing how history changes with the events and how everything leads to young Tali and Shepard, childhood sweethearts who grew up together on Rannoch, which sets the stage for the stories taking place in the ''Mass Effect'' timeline. Dark Danny is a very good author.
** Eh, IMO, the quality of writing and sheer amount of typos leaves something to be desired. Good premise, but I feel executed poorly.
** I'll admit the first two's quality needs some work, but it's always been on the upswing lately.
** Tags: ''AlternateHistory'', Alternate Universe Fic
** Tropes Page [[Fanfic/{{Uplifted}} here]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12729593/1/Uplifted-Last-Days Uplifted: Last Days]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
* Recommended by: Magyareagle
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': These are the last days. The last days of the Third Reich, the last days of the Western Front and the last days of Humanity being alone in the universe. The world is about to change; but will it be for the better?
* ''Comments'': This fic firmly answers any questions anyone had about the direction of the series, as well as showing some of the best character development I've read in fanfiction by illustrating in a realistic manner how a SS officer might eventually change his views and become a more tolerant individual. The growth of Joachim Hoch has been a fascinating journey to follow, and this story really takes the cake in that regard. Excellent writing, and the inclusion of some fantastic new characters, such as Rabbi Edward Asher, and the downfall of the Nazi regime make this story a fitting conclusion to the first part of Uplifted series.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12645118/1/Uplifted-Revolution Uplifted: Revolution]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
* Recommended by: Valarshran, [=JadeCrisanthamum=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': Millions are being shipped to extermination camps across Europe, the Allied bombing raids are growing more fierce, the 6th Army in Stalingrad is on the verge of collapse and the Anglo-American invasion of Algeria will become a reality. The insanity that is the Third Reich is beginning to show. But little does anyone know that revolution is in the air. The uprising has begun..
* ''Comments'': The final chapter of the Uplifted Trilogy, and all out civil war in Germany seems to be the order of the day. We see that [=DarkDanny=] has known were he was going with this series from day one, which is impressive to say the least. As I said when I reviewed the previous two stories, since I'm Jewish, I tend to be a bit sensitive to depictions of the Third Reich, but I find that despite the language used in the series, the author is clear on where he stands in regards to the final solution. My only gripe with the series is that I wish the author would check his spelling for typos. Can't fault him too much though, he's written 400+ pages in three months. Rommel is a true badass in these stories, but I find that the master diplomat Halid Zorah really takes the cake. I also love how we see the Quarians at a time when they are far more like the Colonials from Battlestar than the broken people we see in ''Mass Effect''.
** The author has fixed the earlier spelling errors, and this series has really caught my imagination. The author is already planning a second trilogy set in 2,000, focusing on the descendants of the characters in the first series. It's well thought out, the characters are flawed and surprisingly likable, and it's quite well written. Proof that the remaining 10% is worth launching a coup against the Nazis for.
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''{{Fanfic/Warverse}}''
* Recommended by: @/axiom2, Omeganian
* Status: Ongoing series, first and second parts complete.
* Synopsis: Instead of finding a treasure trove of Protean Tech on Mars, Humanity finds empty ruins, leading to them advancing on an entirely different route than in Canon.
* Tags: Alternate Universe
* Comments: (axiom12) Personally, it was a great read. Aside from details at the beginning of the story that clash with details at the end (Which the author seems to recognize and is working on), the action is phenomenal, the characters great (You will never forget the name Christopher Mcgraw), and the Human Tech uniquely interesting, despite the author-recognized similarities to Halo, which he claims are largely coincidental. The only problem I had was the grammar, which improves greatly as the story continues, but suffers near the beginning, and the plot, which, while not perfect, had some weaknesses; however, through correspondence with the Author (who seems to answer all of his fan-mail), he recognizes this as well, and is working on 'beefing it up' as he releases the Sequel.
** YMMV. I found that it turned into Council-bashing pretty quick, and some of the Human tech and plot elements are so glaringly based off of Halo that it would almost have been a relief if the author made it a straight-up crossover (Orbital Dropping Death Dealers and the [=SIGMAs=] might be what killed this fic for me).
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5768891/1/Who_Saves_the_Hero Who Saves the Hero?]]'' by Kudara
* Recommended by: Sithking Zero
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard had been brought back from death by Cerberus, but she suspects TIM has manipulated her into working for him and that he has his own hidden agenda. Who can she trust besides Garrus and Tali to help her discern the truth? Will be [=FemShep/=]Samara.
* ''Pairing(s)'': [=FemShep=]/Samara, though this is notably NOT the point of this story.
* Tags: Slightly lemon, also female/female relationships.
* ''Comments'': Wow. This story is one of the several fics that is a re-written version of [=ME2=], but done in a really, really awesome way. Starts out with Shepard being very paranoid about Cerberus and the Illusive Man, but that in itself starts off a chain of events that really make this story stand out. A very different Shepard, one who actually thinks about where funds are coming from, one who is trying to seek out the best in everyone, and making it look good while doing it. Actually, I'm not doing a good job at summing it up. Just read it.
** Spark Moon: The only thing that holds me back from giving it my full endorsement is that I prefer a celibate Samara (personal preference, sorry), but that aside, it ''is'' a well-written fic that pulls off a somewhat-saintly, but still flawed Shepard rather well.
** I would recommend this, but the author's grammar is abysmal. The story is interesting, but the constant mechanical errors detract from the presentation.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:[[{{Shipping}} Shipping Fics]]]]
[[folder:Shipping Fics]]
''Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.''
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/30918581 Ark/Angel]]'' by [[https://zirconaworks.com ZirconaWorks]]
* Recommended by: Heirofapophis
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Garrus/Female Shepard.
* ''Synopsis'': Set after Mass Effect 3 (destroy ending with a Paragon Shep). Garrus and the rest of the Normandy crew are stranded up until Garrus' past as Archangel catches up with him in the form of an Asari commando. Kind of noir-ish.
* ''Comments'': Satisfying and action packed, with cool illustrations to help your imagination along.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5733703/1/bClearly_b_ba_b_bMistake_b Clearly A Mistake]]'' by Metal Dragon Kiryu
* Recommended by: Ethan Miller, Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Jack/Miranda, Female Shepard/Liara, Kelly > Shepard.
* ''Synopsis'': Set during the second game, the story focuses on the relationship between Miranda and Jack. It contains f/f sex, albeit not explicit, and a moderate amount of swearing.
* ''Comments'': It's a well written story that takes itself seriously. The characters are in character, the pairing is well developed. This editor thinks it's an interesting story.
** An interesting story, to say the least. Unlike most Jack/Miranda fics that throw them together to cheaply titillate readers, this one takes a more mature approach to it. Worth the time to read and some of the follow-ups to this are quite fun too, in this troper's opinion.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7229101/1/Escaping_the_Past Escaping the Past]]'' by [=RetailAvenger85=]
* Recommended by: [=Bbg1129=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Lt Kaidan Alenko learns to let go of the things that haunt his past with the help of his odd new Commander. His overwhelming urge to protect everyone is derailed by a woman who can protect herself. The author's "headcanon", expanding on games.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Kaidan
* ''Comments'': Basically goes through ''Mass Effect 1'' from the point of view of Kaidan. Author does a great job inserting game dialog, and adding their own. Funny and adorable, The author really gets inside Kaidan's head, and fleshes out his character. Followed by [=ME2=] sequel [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7684444/1/Repairing_the_Present Repairing the Present]] and [=ME3=] [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7941728/1/Creating_the_Future Creating the future]] (currently a WIP) The series is definitely worth a read. Takes a few chapters for the author to hit their stride, but settles in nicely.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12008442/1/First-Love First Love]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7205898/DRWPJT DRWPJT]]
* Recommended by: [=ronnambi=]
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/OC
* ''Status'': In Progress
* ''Synopsis'': "Some people spend their whole lives searching for love, others stumble into it completely by chance. Nicola "Nikki" Shepard was devastated when her childhood sweetheart left Mindoir, but fate is a fickle creature and in the long run it was probably for the best. Starting with brief snapshots on Mindoir and other events pre-[=ME1=] then hopefully continuing throughout the trilogy." --Official summary by the author.
* ''Comments'': A very sweet, fluffy OC/Fem!Shep childhood romance to marriage fic, where the plot heavy elements of the canon have a nice shot of sweetness and light created by Nikki and Trish's interactions. The story starts pre-ME: 1, with a colonist fem!Shep and the cute girl who she spots from her history class, rolls through her years as a private in the Alliance Marines and how she becomes Commander Shepard, with all the highs and lows that come with the role. The start of the ME: 2 timeline is a bit depressing and is a case of assumptions made by Nikki, but all and all a nice, sweet and funny fic that I would recommend everyone give a shot. I also loved how organic all the characters are, with the inter team interactions making the fic well worth the wait when the author puts up the new chapter.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6657831/1/For-Such-Loss-Abundant-Recompense For Such Loss, Abundant Recompense]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1938295/kalenel kalenel]]
* Recommended by: Mad_Alice
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Femshep/Thane
* ''Synopsis'': And here we have a series of scenes exploring different facets of a developing relationship between Femshep and Thane. It's not love at first sight for these two, and like any two people they have to work at understanding each other.
* ''Comments'': Despite Thane being specifically engineered by Bioware as MrFanservice, there's surprisingly few truly decent Thane/Femshep fics out there. This is one of them. The author's style is eloquent, coherent, and she effortlessly keeps everyone in character whilst fully fleshing out one of the more rushed romances in the game. Lovely and thoroughly enjoyable, you won't want to stop reading!
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7910822/1/The-Fourth-Option The Fourth Option]]'' by commandocucumber
* Recommended by: [=[LooksAwesome]=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson
* ''Synopsis'': "John Shepard and Miranda Lawson have survived the Reaper War, now all they have to do is square away the galaxy's problems before they can move on with their own lives. Together."
* ''Comments'': The writer began typing this out almost immediately after they finished their first playthrough of ''Mass Effect 3'' in response to, well, [[BrokenBase you know...]] The Reapers are defeated (sort of), but Shepard is now forced to confront what exactly the events of his life and the choices he has made along the way have cost him as a human being. In addition to his own personal crisis, Shepard has to deal with a galaxy on the edge of (another) war, a treacherous Alliance brass -- including his own mother, no less, a grieving Quarian mechanic, a (duh!) useless Council, and, of course, his paranoid, neurotic girlfriend. Stands as one of the best Miranda/Shepard fics out there.
** Miranda has her own spot in the limelight; including the opportunity to explain key events from her perspective, interact with Hannah Shepard and Tali, and share her deepest insecurities with Shepard.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6765206/1/Gabby_and_Ken Gabby and Ken]]'' by [=JoeLaTurkey=]
* Recommended: by chankljp
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairings'': Gabby/Ken, Shepard/Kelly
* ''Synopsis'': A story that take place during the events of VideoGame/MassEffect2, starting with Kelly and Kasumi getting into a wager to get everyone's favorite engineering duo into admitting their feeling for each other. Things get interesting as the Normandy crew got some shore leave on Illium, with large number of crew members trying to ship the two of them.
* ''Comments'': As of the writing of this recommendation, this is the only story on Gabby and Ken that is available on FanFiction.net. Everyone in the story fits their characterization in the game, with the trademark sarcastic humor from the duo and all other characters. Includes some minor shipping between Kelly and Shepard.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5730585/1/Geth_Infiltrator Geth Infiltrator]]'' by [=DiChromate=]
* Recommended by: Meat Wisdom
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Tali/Legion
* ''Synopsis'': In preparation for the Suicide Mission, Shepard calls on Tali and Legion to accompany him on a mission, in order to get the two to get along both on and off of the battlefield. Tali learns that there is more to Legion than your average Geth, and is more than surprised when she starts developing feelings for it.
* ''Comments'': This story is quite entertaining, managing to seamlessly meld both action and romance. The author even showcases several gameplay elements, such as ammo/weapon switching, Suicide Mission mechanics (the second half of the story takes place during it and gives it a new angle), and having Legion do things that only a synthetic could. Tali's relationship with Legion is also well done, going from barely hiding her contempt for it to falling in love. Don't worry, the story addresses how that would even be possible (namely the fact that Tali can rarely leave her suit and Legion being a robot and all).
** @/{{Night}}: Entertaining, and it captures Legion's mannerisms both vocal and physical very well. Tali is also quite convincing in both action and thoughts. (Even Shepard, Gabby, and Ken talk and act like themselves, which considering the number of Shepards In Name Only is pretty impressive.) Where the story falls down is in portraying Legion's own thoughts. This is entirely forgivable, I think, because a human author is always going to have trouble describing how a collective machine consciousness thinks.
** Iaculus: I'm afraid the speed at which Tali's feelings for Legion developed kind of snapped my WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. There should have been a bit more of an intermediary stage between 'mutual tolerance' and 'wants to get into the walking death-machine's metaphorical pants', in my opinion. If it hadn't been for that, though, I think I might have rather enjoyed it.
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''Fanfic/GhostGhostIKnowYouLiveWithinMe'' By ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4005974/theherocomplex theherocomplex]].
* [[http://masseffectkink.livejournal.com/6870.html?thread=31267030#t31267030 MassKink link]]. [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/825044/chapters/1566083 Archive of our own link]].
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated January 2018
* ''Synopsis'': After Shepard dies over Alchera, Garrus goes to Omega to bury his grief. But when she comes back to him as a ghost, neither of them are sure of what's happening. All they know is that they have work to do.
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': A rather unusual fic with supernatural elements that will hook you right at the start. Aside from our main characters, we also get to know and bond with the Archangels' squad, following their two years of story until the [[ForegoneConclusion inevitable end]] happens.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5283246/1/GT_Snap_Shots GT Snap Shots]]'' and ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5777969/1/GT_Snap_Shots_Reboot GT Snap Shots: Reboot]]'' by [=LockDown=]
* Recommended by: @/{{Firebert}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': A series of one-shots about the Garrus and Tali pairing.
* ''Comments'': Very nice fanfics of this pairing, with correctly guessed examples of events in ''Mass Effect 2'' in the first fic. It features great character development, as well.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4213483/1/Iunctio Iunctio]]'' by Sinvraal
* Recommended by: Damsel Of Distress, Joysweeper, Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/Kaidan, mild Joker/Ashley
* ''Synopsis'': Explorations, variations and off-camera moments from the main storyline. Multiple character [=POVs=].
* ''Comments'': Tempted to put this in general fics as lots of other character interactions is explored than just Shenko. Utter brilliant attention to narrative detail and is easily one of the best ''Mass Effect'' fics.
** Joysweeper: ...Wow. This is ''really good'' fic. I love the level of detail, the exploration of quiet moments, the action, the occasional HumansThroughAlienEyes...
** As an addendum to that, @/{{Leliel}} would like to say that where this fic isn't a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, it's SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}}. While the alien characters are OutOfFocus, the few chapters from their point of view manage to pack a lot of CharacterDevelopment despite being as short as the others are. As for the couple themselves...Geniune is too one-dimensional a word to describe them.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10428872/1/Lights-in-the-Sky Lights in the Sky]]'' by Vorcha Girl
* Recommended by: [=JasonThursday=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/James Vega + some Kaidan Alenko/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': "James Vega had dreamed about Rennah Shepard for years and always hoped to meet her, but when he's tasked with keeping her safe on Earth he gets more than he bargained for; she's argumentative, stubborn and sexy as sin. Joining the crew of the Normandy, fighting the Reapers and falling in love was never part of the plan..."
* ''Comments'': What started out a good [=FemShep=]/Vega fic has become one of my favourite ''Mass Effect'' fics. Highly worth checking out as it's original, clever and well written. It starts prior to ''Mass Effect 3'' and has so far followed the characters through most of [=ME3=], staying canon and telling the story through the eyes of Vega and Shepard. There is a focus on Cerberus as the main antagonists and they are the catalyst for some of the most original plot twists I've seen in a romance. (Mainly romance but contains elements of science fiction, horror and action.)
** Jumps POV from Vega to Shepard, and sometimes to Kaidan, who serves to give the audience a really unique perspective on the main characters.
** This author doesn't stray away from some brutal moments and as well as containing in depth descriptions of violence and gore, it also contains a very graphic torture scene in the later chapters.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6455599/1/Learning_Experiences Learning Experiences]]'' by inthefadeforever
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': AU with no reapers, Shepard as a Spectre candidate and Saren as her instructor.
* ''Pairing'': Saren/Shepard
* ''Comments'': Best completed fanfic of this pairing I can find, excellent plot and character development.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6768903/1/Manipulations Manipulations]]'' by akg.writes
* Recommended by: Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/Kaidan Alenko, ShipTease of Garrus and Kasumi
* ''Warnings'': Out of 87+ chapters, a few of them have explicit content
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard has newfound biotic powers, thanks to the Lazarus Project. She doesn't know how to use them though, so a certain L2 biotic is hired to be her teacher. But things won't be easy: Shepard and Kaidan aren't on good terms, and neither are Alliance and Cerberus officers. They'll all have to [[TeethClenchedTeamwork work together]], as there are bigger interests in play. And why was Shepard turned into a biotic, anyway?
* ''Comments'': There's some good technical explanations of the ''Mass Effect'' [[AllThereInTheManual lore]], and the plot is OriginalFlavour of good quality. Just for that it's worth checking, even if the story moves slowly. However, the fic's true strength is characterization: most characters make an appearance, they're all ''very'' good at their jobs, and they're all consistent with their in-game versions. Of all of them, Shepard, Kaidan and Miranda are the most fleshed out: their behaviors and actions are carefully examined, compared, contrasted, and their points of view make for an entertaining read of the fic's events, as well as give access to their hidden depths. As for the romance, their relationship compares their past and their present, which makes it kind of bittersweet... but deep down, they still care for each other. Overall, it's a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming, mostly fun ride, and if you like snarky writing and ''long'' fanfics, you'll love every second of it.
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''Mass Mayhem'' by Universitas
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Pairing(s)'': M!Shepard/Joker (ergo, slash)
* ''Synopsis'': Quoted from the summary itself: ''100 drabbles in 20 weeks exploring Victor Shepard and his crew. '' Spans the first game and is now entering into ''Mass Effect 2''.
* ''Comments'': Drabbles themselves can be hit or miss, what with having to cram part of a story into 100-500 words or less. This anthology does it with flying colors, hitting on key parts of the characters' personalities in such a small space. (This troper's personal favorites are #'s 72 and 90) YMMV on the slash component, but even this troper-who dislikes Joker-admits the writer does a very good job of writing the sarcastic helmsman, keeping him ''very'' much in character while writing a relationship with a male Shepard. Speaking of Shepard, the one in this story is one of the more interesting takes on the male version of the player character.
** There is now a non-drabble-based sequel, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6195250/1/Chessboard Chessboard,]]'' focusing on Victor Shepard's MysteriousPast told in flashback at the beginning of each chapter (sometimes with its own cliffhanger) and the crew's attempts to find him when he goes missing because of it.
** Now has [[Fanfic/VictorShepardverse its own article.]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8427829/1/Memoirs Memoirs]]'' By: Sharrukin
* Recommended by: [=Avenger09=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Male Shepard/Liara
* ''Synopsis'': Centuries after the end of the Reaper War, a respected asari scientist and political leader tells the story of her youthful adventures with the legendary Shepard. Fighting to save the galaxy is one thing, but figuring out human motivations can be much harder. Science fiction, action-adventure, and a romance on slow burn.
* ''Comments'': A series telling the events of ''Mass Effect'' from the perspective of Liara T'Soni revealing the part she played in the Reaper war, while also telling her own personal story that history has yet to learn. Continued with ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8776523/1/Memoirs-The-Illium-Years The Illium Years]]'' (Complete) and ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9582113/1/Memoirs-The-Reaper-War The Reaper War]]'' (Complete)
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3985805/1/Modus_Operandi Modus Operandi]]'' by Pereprin
* Recommended by: Tolgron
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Starting just after Shepard receives command of the Normandy, Modus Operandi flits back and forth between Shepard's current missions and interactions with her crew, and the story of how she came to be the woman capable of being the first human Spectre. All the while, increasingly towards the ending chapters, Shepard forms a rather complicated relationship with her Turian squadmate, Garrus Vakarian. Rated M for adult language and rather steamy romance scenes.
* ''Comments'': Easily one of the best ''Mass Effect'' fanfics out there, the narrative is approached maturely and with utmost respect for the source it draws from. The dialogue is so believable that you can quite easily hear the characters speaking as you read it, and the narrative is very skillfully woven together such that you can't help but keep reading. Top class stuff.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/6335266/chapters/14517949#workskin Never Let You Go]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Kate_Shepard/pseuds/Kate_Shepard Kate_Shepard]]
* Recommended by: OperationOverlord
* Status: Complete
* Synopsis: What if Garrus was aboard the Normandy when the Collectors attacked? What if Shepard didn't get spaced alone?
* Pairing(s): Shepard/Garrus Vakarian
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6038495/1/Nothing_Ventured_Nothing_Gained Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained]]'' by ghost.713
* Recommended by: @/SaltyWound, [=Pyrotorch246=], Nuti
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairings'': Kolyat/Oriana
* ''Synopsis'': ''Guardian angels have never been perfect creatures, but a one-time hitman might be stretching things.'' After his assassination attempt is foiled, Kolyat Krios begins working for Captain Bailey on Zakera Ward, reluctantly and irritably attempting to repent for his crime. At the same time, Oriana ''Solheim'', now attending multiple schools on the Citadel, moves into the apartment next door to Koylat. An incredibly awkward, yet terribly cute relationship inevitably forms.
* ''Comments'': On first glance, this may sound like a desperate attempt to pair up two side-characters for the hell of it. The two characters are brought together realistically and their interactions feel genuine. Also happens to feature some of the best Captain Bailey writing I've ever seen. You can easily hear Michael Hogan delivering the lines.
** Seconded once again by [=Pyrotorch246=]. It's a fun read that shows that life goes on while Shepard is out saving the galaxy. The writing and characterizations are excellent, as is the plot.
** Yep, great read that fleshes out the wides universe and characters very well.
** Thirded (fourth-ed?) by Nuti. I could say that while this is a shipping fic, most of the time it was actually an OddFriendship fic, and it was brilliant. I also liked how Kolyat's personality and behavior was played for both comedy and drama, as well as portraying the galaxy from the point of view of a drell.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6149924/1/Our_Love_Is_Problematic Our Love Is Problematic]]'' by Finn Solomon
* Recommended by: Dutch Warlord, SithkingZero
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Male Shepard/Subject Zero
* ''Synopsis'': From the opening Chapter "A ''Mass Effect 2'' fic detailing the growing relationship between Commander John Shepard and the mysterious, violent biotic known only as Jack." Exactly what it says, starts from Purgatory and continues onwards. Ongoing.
* ''Comments'': There's more Shepard/Tali romance fics than anyone can shake a stick at, and this happens not only to put Jack in a prominent role but happens to be well written. It covers as mentioned from the Purgatory Mission to Suicide Run and goes past. Rather humorous, especially since Shepard isnt played as a stereotypical Do-Good Hero Jesus type, but a person with flaws. Strongly Recommended.
** If for no other reason, the scene between Shepard and Morinth is terrifying and amazing in its own right. I love the story, but that has to be one of my favorite parts.
** This Troper found the story to be largely underwhelming. Shepard has inconsistent characterisation and came across as a singularly ineffective individual instead of the best living human soldier. The relationship between Jack and Shepard felt very underdeveloped through the [=ME2=] portion, sticking to the canon beats to the detriment of the story. It's also dialog heavy and lacking in descriptions.
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/362903/chapters/589309 The Parting Glass]]'' by spicyshimmy
* Recommended by: Katseester
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Post [=ME3=] fic. Highly speculative. SPOILERS! In the aftermath of Shepard's choice, Steve Cortez and James Vega figure out what it means to be alive in London, Kaidan Alenko figures out what it means to be alive at all, and Garrus Vakarian figures out someone else might just be alive, too.
* ''Pairings'': James/Steve, M!Shep/Kaidan
* ''Comments'': Poignant and thoughtful, this fic ponders the effects Shepard's decision has on civilization from several points of view over the course of 18 chapters. Written before the release of the Extended Cut. Highly recommended. The rest of this author's works are definitely worth a look too.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6261542/1/Persephone_Rising Persephone Rising]]'' by [[PenName ansinna]] (A shared account belonging to [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2248257/Evil_Sapphyre Evil Sapphyre]], [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2277883/jillyfae jillyfae]], and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2233028/Sia_Later SiaLater]])
* Recommended by: Lady Demonique, [=Pyrotorch246=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': [[CrackPairing fem!Shepard/Joker]], [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan fem!Shepard/Kaidan]], [[BelligerentSexualTension fem!Shepard/Garrus]].
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Three Shepards were born, instead of just one. Alexis Shepard, the Spacer and War Hero, as beautiful as she is driven. Ella Shepard, the Mindoir-born, Butcher of Torfan with a heart of gold. Meghan Shepard, Earthborn reformed criminal and the Sole Survivor of Akuze. They've all been assigned to the Normandy SR-1 for her shake-down cruise. But no one ever sends these marines out together for just a shake-down cruise...''
* ''Comments'': A single Commander Shepard is already pretty damn badass, but putting three different combinations of Shepard's backgrounds together just takes the awesome up to eleven. The three authors who co-write this fanfic work together very well, and manage to make their respective Shepards believable. The action sequences are brilliant, the pacing fast but not rushed, and the exploration of the Shepards' relationship with their Love Interests are handled sensitively. All in all, a very entertaining read.
** The story is reasonably well written (I'm a little tough to please in that department), and what Lady Demonique said holds true in my opinion too. What caught my eye is the attention to detail with the more military part of the fic-how the crew and the Shepards interact, and how things are dealt with, plus certain bits of terminology. It's enough to convince me (if it isn't clear by now, I like seeing that sort of thing done right) that at least one of the authors is or was either a marine or a sailor, which makes it that much more interesting.
** While the story is well written, the fact that the three protagonists are named Shepard can make it quite confusing as to whom they are talking about. Also, I had the impression [[FemaleGaze Kaidan's butt (all of his body)]] kept coming up in every discussion the three Shepards have for the 20 first chapters. While not plot relevant or important, it can be quite irritating. cricri3007.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8664129/1/Queen-s-Gambit-Accepted Queen's Gambit Accepted]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3539806/fahRENheit2006 fahRENheit2006]]
* Recommended by: pistachioinfernal
* ''Status'': Dead
* Synopsis: Specialist Samantha Traynor, one of the Alliance's best and brightest, was relatively content working in Alliance R&D. But then... the Reapers came. Full of action, profanity, sarcasm, friendship, and gripping chess matches that will leave you breathless.
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Samantha Traynor
* ''Comments:'': There aren't a lot of fics exploring the Femshep/Traynor relationship, but even if there were, this one would stick out. Humour, pathos, conspiracy theories, chess games that are about flirting, and eavesdropping on diplomats is only scratching the surface. I really don't do it justice, check it out and see for yourself!
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''[[Fanfic/RazorsEdge Razor's Edge]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2399641/Tairis_Deamhan Tairis Deamhan]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/HerrWozzeck, Sigge, Bustamouse, nitewind, Crimson Shogun, midorigreen
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Tali/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Life is all about finding something worth living for, the question is what is that when you're a spectre that has already died once? John Shepard seeks to find this out as he begins to realize the extent of his feelings to a certain Quarian engineer...
* ''Comments'': Possibly the single finest example of Tali/Shepard I can find anywhere on the internet. Tairis Deamhan has a real eye for character development; everything flows incredibly naturally in terms of character actions, and when we finally begin to get Tali and Shepard's romance after a very slow build-up, it's astoundingly beautiful. It's also a great read given how he manages to treat all of the missions/assignments in the fic, giving so much more emotional edge to each one (of particular note is his treatment of Samara's loyalty mission).
** Seconded, sure it contains some misspellings and faulty grammars but is really well done and is a very good read.
*** Fortunately, the author is currently (while also writing ''Requiem'') in the process of correcting the grammatical errors of the prior stories.
** The sequel, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6814325/1/Razors_Edge_Dark_Witness Dark Witness]]'', is also complete. It covers the events of Lair of the Shadow Broker, still with plenty of Shep/Tali goodness.
** The third installment in the series, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7952484/1/Razors_Edge_Requiem Requiem]]'', has begun, and will follow the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', with many creative liberties taken. Such as [[spoiler: Shepard struggling with indoctrination while a Reaper avatar in the form of a ghostly [[ArchNemesis Saren]] haunts his dreams]].
*** The whole trilogy is complete.
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''[[http://punishandenslavesuckers.tumblr.com/post/80052536134/if-the-geth-have-a-soul-then-it-is-a-strange-one The Robot]]'' by punishandenslavesuckers
* Recommended by: @/{{Jonn}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "If the Geth have a soul then it is a strange one, but if the soul exists then so too do all the sorrows that comes with it."
* ''Pairing(s)'': Tali/Legion
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5724140/1/Rock_Steady Rock Steady]]'' by Gagged Cenobite
* Recommended by: @/HerrWozzeck, pcy623, {{@/Oracle}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Thane/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': Nobody's really whole, we're just broken in different ways from each other. Jack learns this as her friendship with a certain Drell assassin slowly intensifies.
* Comments: One would think pairing a violent, manic-depressive, and overall bitchy character like Jack with a character who is pretty much her exact opposite would be impossible. And yet, Gagged Cenobite makes such a relationship work beautifully here, bringing Jack and Thane together in ways that are quite unexpected and yet work so well. The scenes before the Omega 4 relay ''especially'' make this pairing work; it could almost be a canon pairing the way it is handled so respectfully and delicately. Definitely a recommended read based on the strength of the character development on Jack's end throughout, too.
** Also there's a lovely cameo of Kasumi that's very in character. This is important because the author wrote this BEFORE Kasumi was released as DLC.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6086607/1/Something_Thatll_Last Something That'll Last]]'' by Popehippo
* Recommended by: Spark Moon, @/SaltyWound, Ultrayellow, SithkingZero, Bustamouse, StClair
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Background characters, specifically a salarian and an asari.
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary ''A small glimpse into the life of those outside of Commander Shepard's story; based on the interactions of two [=NPCs=] in Illium.'' That is to say, the unnamed salarian and his asari step-daughter you overhear on Illium.
* ''Comments'': This short, but extremely beautiful one-shot takes a glimpse not at Shepard or any of his/her crew, but two one-off characters you pass by on one of the main worlds of the sequel: a salarian searching for a gift for his significant other with his asari step-daughter. To say any more than that would be a spoiler, but I will leave you with this: have at least one tissue handy, because if you have a heart, you'll be misty-eyed at the end.
** *Sniff*...those two characters always got me when I passed by them in the game. Having now read this, I may never be able to walk by them again without crying my eyes out.
** This is excellent. Understated, simple, but absolutely beautiful. It's nice to see someone who writes such great stories about characters who don't get any interactions with Shepard at all.
** Nthing. Very well-written one-shot.
** It takes a lot to get me to cry, but I did feel a little bit of tightness in my chest and some prickling in my eyes when I read this. For a character who has maybe ten lines total, and you probably never hear all of them unless you're staying to listen, this is a very powerful story.
** All the Manly Tears.
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/2762003 Spare Parts]]'' by [=MsWikit=]
* Recommended by: Starshone
* Status: Complete
* Synopsis: Shepard's clone awakens in a hospital eight months after the end of the Reaper War (Control ending), and to her surprise everyone seems to think she's Shepard. She feigns amnesia in order to fool people into thinking she's the real deal, and begins to learn what it means to be the real Commander.
* Pairings: Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, Female Clone Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, Javik/Liara T'soni
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/203669/chapters/302045 A Star to Steer Her By]]''
* Recommended by: @/{{DealsWithFate3}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* After being revived by Cerberus, Shepard is not quite the stable commander that Joker remembers, and he's surprised to find himself helping her pick up the pieces. Follows [=ME2=] with a focus on the interstitial non-mission bits.
* Pairings: Fem!Shep/Joker
* Comments: It's a nice slow build Joker/Shep romance, starting with [=ME2=]. He has survivor's guilt. She's dealing with a new body and allegiance. It's quite good. Friends to lovers thing, with focus on other characters, a very fleshed out Shep, etc.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5764616/1/Strange_Bedfellows Strange Bedfellows]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2218474/Phoenike Phoenike]]
* Recommended by: [[http://kcblood2cheep.blogspot.com LoganLee88]]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': An alternate take to the love scene between Garrus and Shepard before the Omega-4 Relay and a post-Suicide Mission chapter as well.
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Shepard
* ''Comments'': Unlike majority of Garrus/Shep fics this troper has read, this fic isn't all fluffy and stuff. It can be quite explicit in parts but what fascinates is how the pair are incompatible in some physical ways. Additionally, (not to give away any spoilers) this fiction reminds players that not everyone gets perfect playthroughs.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6424858/1/Supernova Supernova]]'' by Echo Alexia
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Nihlus meets Femshep prior to boarding the Normandy. They duke it out with lots of mercs.
* ''Pairing'': Nihlus/Shepard
* ''Comments'': A brilliant action packed romantic comedy,[[spoiler: despite the canonical tragic ending.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6285730/1/Taking_Back_Yesterday Taking Back Yesterday]]'' by Gagged Cenobite
* Recommended by: [=JackInqu=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Thane/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': An exercise in getting rid of unwanted tenants. Is it worth it to plan, organize, and execute a full-on assault on the biggest arms dealer in Citadel space, just to get some alone-time? You bet your ass it is.
* Comments: A sequel/side-story to ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5724140/1/Rock_Steady Rock Steady]]'', Jack and Thane help Kasumi with her mission to retrieve her partner's graybox from Donovan Hock. Only two chapters at this time, but it looks like it will be up to the standards of it's preceding story. Jack continues to go through CharacterDevelopment while Thane deals with some loose ends of his own. Oh, and Liara T'Soni makes an appearance. Spoilers for Kasumi's mission and "The Lair of the Shadow Broker."
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5813293/1/The_Thane_Krios_Experience The Thane Krios Experience]]'' by littleblackdog
* Recommended by: Joysweeper
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Garrus/Shepard, Garrus/Thane.
* ''Synopsis'': Nervous about the mechanics of blowing off steam with a human, Garrus seeks advice about the bane of xeno-loving Turians throughout the galaxy-- how is this kissing thing supposed to work, especially when you've got no lips?
* ''Comments'': It actually might fit better in the Humor section, but eh. The title's a reference to The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and despite an awkward line or two it's just fun.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7202905/1/A_Thessians_Whisper A Thessian's Whisper]]'' by [=PMC65=]
* Recommended by: Shakduhn, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Liara/Female Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': The separate lives of E.W. Shepard (Elizabeth Whisper Shepard) and Liara T'Soni: Starting in 2164 when Shepard is 10 and Liara is 87 the story reveals how they grow up to become the individuals that meet on Therum. Their families, friends, lovers and life experiences.
* ''Comments'': One of the finest works of fiction I've ever read. Unlike most romance fics, this one focuses on the personal lives of Shepard and LIara BEFORE they ever met. Each chapter takes turns narrating a segment on Shepard's life, followed by Liara's and so on. What makes this fic stand from so many others, is how much the authoress goes into detail. Ample background is given for Shepard's family, and friends, as well as Liara's family and friends. Each and every single one of the characters, from Shepard's dad, to Shep's mom, to her friends, to her grandparents, is a multi-layered well developed well focused personality. It focuses on the "Colonial" background of shepard (Lived on Mindoir, till it was attacked when she was 16). It has a healthy dose of humor, drama, well written dialog, a small dose of pop culture references, and plenty of shot-outs to future events that end up happening in the first game, it does a great job in fleshing out characters that don't get so much limelight on the actual game (Like Benezia, or Shiala). This fanfic is complete, starts from when Shepard was 10, and ends just before she is selected as Nhilus's disciple as the first human spectre. It has a sequel in the form of ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7714223/1/The_Shepherdess_and_the_Questing_Beast The Shepherdess and the Questing Beast]]'' which covers the events depicted in the first game, and its currently a work in progress. Most definitely a MUST-READ for any fem!shep fan out there.
** Its of particular note how much detail goes into asari Culture in general, with well defined, well researched exposure to their customs, rituals, culture, and more. So if you also happen to be an asari fan, this is the one fic you CANT afford to miss.
** Extremely well written and really had me through almost the entire story. But nearing the end and nearly unbearable in the sequel is how EVERYONE wants a piece of Shepherd, although YMMV. You can't go two sentences without someone talking about how incredible Shepherd is and how badly they want her. That comment aside this fic is VERY good with believable characters that you really fall in love with, and yes plenty of goodies for all the asari fans out there.
** Though being fair, everyone wanting a piece of Shepard is kinda canon in the game itself. Not for nothing, in the list of tropes on the page dedicated for Shepard is "Memetic Sex God/Goddess" due to the overwhelming amount of people that seem to want a piece of Shep, be them gay, straight, male, female, human, or alien. I do have to admit the fic kinda takes it a little bit too far, but its not that much of a stretch from what can be observed in the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6475344/1/ Tiger By My Side]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2602204/Introjection Introjection]]
* Recommended by: Cass
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Joker/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Commander Shepard isn't one to be confused. However, after the events on the remote colony of Horizon, she has no choice but to accept the things she does not want to face, and have the courage to start life anew.
* ''Comments'': I was a little wary of this one going in, since from the first chapter it seems like the story is going to contain pointless Jacob-bashing for the sake of the pairing and like it might rush the relationship. But I kept going and was so glad that I did because instead I got a great, natural, build-up with all the snark you'd want in a Joker-centric fic, and even Shep's unease with Jacob turns out to have actual character-based reasons. It also stands out among many long-fics I've read set during [=ME2=] for ''not'' spending a lot of time regurgitating conversations and scene-by-scene descriptions of situations we already saw in the game, filling in the spaces between cutscenes instead. And even when it delves into missions that we've all played through Introjection isn't afraid to make (minor) changes to keep things fresh.
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''Fanfic/TheTranslationInBlood'' by [=NothingTame=] [[http://games.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=600087625 (link)]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/StarSword
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' In the ruins of occupied Shanxi, an Alliance soldier and a Turian scout discover that they have more in common than is readily apparent. This leads to a story of a SecretRelationship across species (and government) boundaries and all that entails, stretching from the First Contact War to a little after the Destroy ending of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', and resulting in Commander Shepard having a mentor and supporter she never knew about.
* ''Pairings:'' Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard[[note]]Shepard's mother with the [[MultipleChoicePast Spacer background]][[/note]] and Councilor Sparatus (no, seriously), with [=FemShep=]/Garrus in the background of the later chapters.
* ''Tags:'' NotSafeForWork due to M/F ExplicitContent, InterspeciesRomance, {{Completed|Fic}}
* ''Comments:'' Radm. Shepard x Sparatus would seem to be a CrackPairing at first glance, but not only does the author make it work, it also casts a [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation completely different interpretation]] on Sparatus' actions in the trilogy. It also allows for an absolutely hilarious reaction from [=FemShep=] to the [[MemeticMutation air-quotes thing]].
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''Fanfic/{{Weightless|MassEffect}}'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Alex_Scrye/pseuds/Alex_Scrye Alex_Scrye]]
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Active (Was a dead fic, but the author recently came back on [[Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn AO3]], posting an updated and rewritten version after nearly 10 years away.)
* ''Synopsis'': A wise Krogan once said that the only stories worth telling are those of love, sex, and war. This has all three. A story of provocateurs, confidants, and unhealthy attraction. ''Mass Effect'' Noir. Rated MA. Original content and a touch of AU pre & post [=ME1-ME3=] concerning the secrets, origins, and lives of Jane Shepard and Garrus Vakarian.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': This Noir-fic focusing mainly on Shepard and Garrus relationship with each other while gradually uncovering Shepard's past and her relation to [[spoiler: Kai Leng]] and [[spoiler: Nihlus]]. The writing may turns some people off with its purple prose and metaphors, but once you get past those things, it gives you many new insights for several characters. The author's ability to delivery moods and emotions is quite excellent and you can particularly feels the characters coming to life.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5785582/1/Where-Angels-Fear-To-Tread Where Angels Fear to Tread]] (''completed'').
''Sequel'': [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6015262/1/Closer-to-Home Closer to Home]] (incompleted, maybe a {{Deadfic}} now) by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1838731/WarlordFil WarlordFil]].
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Synopsis'': Death changes things. When Commander Shepard tries to tell her old friend what he means to her, she finds out that her own thoughts about him have changed. [=ME1=] and 2 spoilers.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': The first fic shows what happened off-scene during [=ME2=] to explain why Shepard suddenly asked Garrus to 'blow off steam' with her and why Garrus agreed (as in the author's words "how Shepard went from "my buddy Garrus" in [=ME1=] to "want to ease some tension?" in [=ME2=]"). The second fic was written before [=ME3=] so it didn't follow canon, this story let us see more about the Turian tradition and point of views including an exploration about Garrus's background. Both are very well written with a healthy dose of sweetness and angst with the [=OCs=] are quite believable and interesting. Pity that the sequel stopped right at a cliffhanger.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/893399 Like it's Hallelujah]]'' (complete)
* Recommended by: readerdreamer
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Liara
* Comments: This is an absolutely beautiful fic, one of my favorites ever. It's short, but every word is a gut-punch.
* Synopsis: ''At the end of the world, a woman walks into a bar. Stop me if you've heard this one before.''
** After the end of [=ME3=] (spoilers for the whole trilogy), Shepard and Liara find each other.
[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/505809 Variations on a Theme, With Tank and Gun Fire]]
* Recommended by: Polaris
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard finds herself reliving the last few years, from finding the beacon on Eden Prime to the battle for Earth. Again, and again, and again. How much can she change? How much should she change?
* ''Pairings'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': A GroundhogDayLoop fic where Shepard keeps reliving the events of the games, starting with Eden Prime and ending with the catalyst. The Shepard/Garrus pairing is the backbone of the fic, but Shepard's relationships with the whole crew are important. It's not precisely FixFic, because as Shepard learns there are some outcomes you can't avoid, but everyone is extremely competent and fully in character in a very cathartic way, and some hearbreaks ''are'' avoided in the end.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG: Humor Fics]]
[[folder:Humor Fics]]
''Crackfics, satires, or otherwise humorous stories.''
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7281151/1/Cultural_Differences Cultural Differences]]'' by Mini Boss Majoring
* Recommended by: SithkingZero, @/{{Gamerex27}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* Pairings: M!Shep/Tali, F!Shep/Garrus (story switches between the viewpoints of two different Shepards. Romance is NOT the point of this story.)
* ''Synopsis'': One-shots during [=ME1=] and [=ME2=]. With several species on the Normandy, it was rather obvious that differences between them would be mistaken at times. Continuing.
* Comments: a more humorous look at some of the ways that humanity and the other races differ. Case in point? The first chapter contains an account of Tali tackling Shepard because she thinks he's trying to commit suicide by slitting his throat with a sharp blade. [[spoiler: He was shaving]]. It only gets funnier from there.
** @/{{Gamerex27}}: I was considering adding this to the recs page until I saw someone else did it first. This is a hilarious story, and every chapter gives a few great jokes and hilarious moments. The characters are also IC to a fault: one could be forgiven for thinking that an actual Bioware employee wrote this.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8494289/1/Fifty-Shades-of-Blue Fifty Shades of Blue]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2301265/RaptorAssassin Raptor Assassin]]
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis:'' Sordid tales of eroticism from the darkest corners of the galaxy, hot from the most degenerate pages of Fornax. It's pretty much Caligula, you guys. But with aliens. Hot aliens. That are hot. Rated MA for NSFW xenophilic blasphemies that will forever destroy your headcanon
* ''Comments:'' Destroy your headcanon, indeed. Took this troper 1 week to look and Shiala or Garrus normally again. The way the author [[SelfDeprecation making fun of her own writing style]] (that she uses in her [[Fanfic/WeightlessMassEffect serious fic]]) does help, too.
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''Good Morning Zakera Ward'', a ''Mass Effect'' Fan Podcast
* Recommended by: [=HumanTorch2=]
* Status: Unclear (Somewhere between Dormant and effectively Complete)
* Description: An InUniverse [[InnocentBystanderSeries morning drive-style radio program on the Citadel]] hosted by a human woman and a male turian who are VitriolicBestBuds. They are joined by an asari {{Expy}} of American radio personality [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delilah_(radio_host) Delilah Rene]] who gives relationship advice at their expense, the volus owner of the radio station in question and his ValleyGirl BrattyTeenageDaughter, and gain a salarian LoonyFan / StalkerWithACrush right off the bat. It follows a bunch of civilians reacting to the events of [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]].
* Comments: It starts more or less at the same time as the geth attack on Eden Prime, and has a Female Shepard. Shepard has not been a guest on the show. [[https://gmzw.bandcamp.com/album/good-morning-zakera-ward-season-1 The first season can be listened to in full here]] and the full series as of this writing can be found on Website/YouTube [[https://www.youtube.com/c/GoodMorningZakeraWard via the official channel here]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6982725/1/Infiltrait0rN7 Infiltrait0r N7]]'' by ranubis
* Recommended by: ultimatepheer, ace45ray, owlbot
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': We all know that Legion is deadly in combat. Rumors are he also is a gamer. Let's take a look at his interactions on the extranet...
* ''Comments'': Humorous, and the writer nailed the personality of both legion and the typical FPS player.
* The best thing about this short fic is that it perfectly explains why Legion was able to overturn multiple infractions that it cheated, yet paradoxically accepts an infraction for taunting (for a machine, you'd think it would be the other way around) as according to its Shadow Broker file.
* Of particular note is [[spoiler:[=Infiltrait0rN7:=] Do you require assistance?]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6615847/1/ Joker's List]]'' by Made Nightwing
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''The Command Team of the Normandy [=SR2=] are sick of Joker's pranks. They make up a list of 182 things that Joker is no longer allowed to do. Based on Skippy's List, the life and times of a Special Forces Medic.''
* ''Comments'': Perhaps not everything on the list are in character for Joker, but it's hilarious all the same. Additions to the list by commentors can be found in the comments section.
** YMMV: If you've read Skippy's list, there's not much new to see here.
** Agreed. If you like reading "Things Mr. Welsh is no longer allowed to do in RPG's," "The Supervillain Checklist," or or Skippy's list, you'll like it because of that. However, this really isn't in character with Joker, or any of the ME characters, really.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8454795/1/Layin_Down_the_Law Layin' Down the Law]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4201425/Nuclear-Bacon Nuclear Bacon]]
* Recommended by: [=Mrtaco6=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' More Crucible trolling, lots of similarities to the fic above. It's a list of 100 things the crew working on the Crucible is not allowed to do.
* ''Comments:'' A good fic, similar to other rulefics like 100 Things Commander Shepard's Crew will Mutiny Over and such. Lots of focus on geth trolling.
** HilariousInHindsight: Rule 95: [[VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda We do not have the fuel necessary to fly to the Andromeda galaxy, and even if we did, we would disrupt their (presumed) social order. And that's rude.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6356828/1/Mass_Effect_Grunt_Sticks_It_In Mass Effect: Grunt Sticks It In]]'' by Gregg Landsman
* Recommended by: @/{{Liangnui}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Upon deciding that hanging herself out as the cyborg carrot on a stick for the Asari Sex Vampire was not a good idea, Commander Jane Shepard decides to use her varied team of specialists to set an actual trap. In theory.
* ''Comments'': Similar in tone to Landsman's major work, ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'', this fic is hilarity on par with anything in this category. Special moments include [[spoiler:[[{{Adorkable}} Tali's]] reaction to LSD, [[HitmanWithAHeart Thane]] playing tonsil hockey with Aria, and ''Grunt'' being the bait for Morinth.]] And that's not even ''close'' to the entirety of the fic's comedy.
** @/{{Horngeek}}: The line that killed me was [[spoiler: Morinth not coming out because the ''Illusive Man'' is chatting her up.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7988786/1/Mass_Effect_3_A_Crucible_in_More_Ways_Than_One Mass Effect 3 A Crucible in More Ways Than One]]'' by Sudentor
* Recommended by: Wild Goose, Tropulastic, @/USABobcat, [=Chris54325=], [=GrantMK2=], owlbot
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Forget Commander Shepard and Admiral Anderson; being responsible for organizing the construction of a doomsday device with that many zany races and organizations, Admiral Steven Hackett is clearly the true, most long-suffering hero of ''Mass Effect 3''.
* ''Comments'': A ''very'' crackfic take on the trials of Admiral Hackett as he supervises the construction of the Crucible, deals with being the OnlySaneMan in a fleet of Crazy-cool scientists (and just plain crazy) and tries to keep everyone focused on getting the job done. Highlights include challenging Kasumi to a Touhou duel to keep her from stealing Jacob from Bryn Cole.
** Ahahahaha. I found this to be a very hilarious read. Definitely recommend it.
** Utter nonstop hilarity. Good crackfics are hard enough to find. Good crackfics that still keeps the humor in touch with canon lore is a rarity amongst rarities. There's a reason this is the most recommended ''Franchise/MassEffect'' humor fanfic on TV Tropes.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6039653/1/Mass_Effect_Records_of_an_Irken_Defective Mass Effect: Records of an Irken Defective]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2245016/KiwiDayDreams KiwiDayDreams]]
* Recommended by: Kalaong and Navllyk
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShepard=] is summoned back to Earth to investigate an... oddity. She ends up adding the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain saddest]], [[JerkAss most obnoxious]] [[AlienInvasion alien invader]] in existence to her squad. '''''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim.'''''
* ''Comments'': Start reading and feel something inside your head snap and slide sideways. Creator/JhonenVasquez's insanity meets Creator/BioWare epicness. Even Legion's mind is blown. You get your first hint that not all is comedy when it is discovered that [[spoiler:the Reapers turned the Irkens into the Citadel's Keepers. Then Zim is taken back to Irk only to find that the Reapers wiped out his species. [[TheWoobie Poor Zim]].]]
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''[[http://epantiras.deviantart.com/art/Mess-Perfect-COVER-180557438 Mess Perfect]]'' by Epantiras
* Recommended by: Borkless, Maymei
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A brilliant parody comic of ''Mass Effect'' poking good natured fun at almost all aspects of the game.
** Now with an in-progress sequel, [[http://epantiras.deviantart.com/gallery/31228611#/d3ktox2 Mess Perfect 2]] (Dead)
* ''Comments'': Very funny, featuring a renegade [=FemShep=] who does actions most of us only wish were in the game.
** Recommendation seconded by {{@/Alynnidalar}}. This fic is ''hilarious!'' Much of it is lampshading the more facepalmy moments of the two games, but there's also the hilarious characterization, humorous side stories (like Shepard's continual hitting on Jack, with painful consequences), and an exaggerated, stylized art style that is perfect for the light-hearted tone of the comic.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/42132465 My Big Fat Quarian Wedding]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/AndrewJTalon/pseuds/AndrewJTalon AndrewJTalon]]
* Recommended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Completed
* ''Description:'' Post-''Mass Effect 3'', where Male Shepard romanced Tali. Shepard promised to build Tali a house on Rannoch, but she's a little surprised to learn ''he'', the soldier with no training in architecture or construction, intends to do it himself. HilarityEnsues. Later on, Tali enlists the help of several Geth platforms (including one created with input from message board forums) and Kal'Reegar shows up in just his underwear.
* ''Comments:'' This is quite possibly the funniest ''ME'' story I've read in some time. Imagine ''Film/TheMoneyPit'' if instead of a restoration, it was construction, with wacky hijinks and one Geth whacking another over the head with a pipe whenever it does anything wrong (which is frequently).
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7750188/1/100-Things-Commander-Shepard-Crew-ll-Mutiny-Over One Hundred Things Commander Shepard's Crew'll Mutiny Over]]'' by The Mad Dragon
* Recommended by: decoy73, rehberre
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard's crew, having had enough of some of her antics, has come together to compile a list of things she's no longer allowed to do.
* ''Comments'': Incredibly funny, in character, and forbidding all the things we have done, wish we could do, and then some. Also with shout-outs to other games and movies.
** Seconded. This is awesomely hilarious, especially if you've read Skippy's List. Now has a [[Fanfic/OneHundredThingsCommanderShepardsCrewllMutinyOver page]]!
** HilariousInHindsight: [[spoiler:82. We're not making clones of you. The galaxy would shit itself]]. Funny, because it was before [[spoiler: the "Citadel" DLC]] was released.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5761440/1/ Threesome]]'' by Remenants
* Recommended by: Anthurak
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShepard=], Garrus and Tali get to know each other better. Not what it sounds like! Honest!
* ''Comments'': A fun little one-shot. Won't spoil anything, but quite funny. Any Garrus or Tali fan will enjoy.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5739975/1/A_Trail_a_Mile_Wide A Trail a Mile Wide]]'' by Heuksal
* Recommended by: Anthurak, @/DoctorWorm, Joysweeper, pcy623, Maymei
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After destroying the Collector base and saving the galaxy, the crew of the [=SR2=] Normandy go on shore leave. HilarityEnsues. Pretty much one giant reference to "Music/BannedFromArgo" by Leslie Fish & the Dehorn Crew -- a song about spacers misbehaving so badly as to become [[PersonaNonGrata Personae Non Gratae]].
* ''Comments'': Basically, Shepard is nursing a colossal hangover while Garrus gives her a whole shopping list of the crazy shit she and her crew has done. A fun read.
** Creator/BioWare take note: an interlude like this would be perfect for ''Mass Effect 3''. It would be a great way to develop the characters and a nice breath of fresh air between drama-heavy missions.
*** [[HilariousInHindsight The Citadel DLC sounds (partly) like this.]]
** @/{{Alynnidalar}} would like to second the recommendation for this one. It is ''hilarious!''
*** Hilarious and ''in character'' to boot! The entire piece is so utterly hilarious that I almost didn't realize it, but if you consider both their personalities and the circumstances, everyone's behavior is ''completely believable!'' Seriously, someone get this to Bioware's attention pronto!
[[/folder]]
[[WMG: Crossover Fics]]
[[index]]
to:
* Synopsis: Shepard recruited the best in the universe for his campaign against the Collectors. This includes...
** [=ADHD_Pyro=]: From the twisted minds over at Website/SpaceBattlesDotCom comes a veritable cornucopia of crossovers with everything imaginable. In particular, their fusion of [=ME2=] with Metal Gear Solid is incredibly well done.
** @/MaskedAndDangerous: As one of the writers on this thread, I can die happy now knowing something I contributed to got a recommendation on this site.
** @/MetaSkipper : A good thread for a good laugh. Appears to be slow to update, sadly.
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[[http://biowarebang.livejournal.com/tag/canon%3A%20mass%20effect The Bioware Big Bang]]
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* Section of ''Mass Effect'' Fanart and Fanfic from the Bioware Big Bang Challenge.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2568882/Chi-Kyoku Chi Kyoku]]
* Recommended by: @/{{Murus}}
* ''Synopsis'': A set of five loosely related stories, the last of which is unfortunately a [[DeadFic dead fic]]. F!Shepard/Garrus [[{{Shipping}} ship-fics]].
** EDIT: DeadFic no more! Chi Kyoku is risen, and actively writing once again.
* ''Comments'': @/{{Murus}}: These are distinctly relationship-oriented fics written by a high-schooler (at the time). Normally, that would be a big flashing sign for me to go read something else, avoiding this in a wide circle. But I didn't... and Chi Kyoku ended up being one of those people who are a shining example on why a book shouldn't be judged by its cover. For this is not some immature horror show. What we have here is a set of wonderful, well-written stories that approach their subject with subtlety and maturity. The Garrus/Fem!Shep relationship is layered, develops slowly (in a good sense) and, above all, feels real. Also, there isn't much action... yet I didn't mind that at all. Considering my usual interests, preferences and avoidances when it comes to fanfiction, that speaks volumes of just how good Chi Kyoku's work is. Go now, and read.
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[[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/1109816/1 If You Were Commander Shepard]]
* Recommended by: @/{{Meshakhad}}
* A thread consisting of people writing their own dialogue for ''Mass Effect''. Runs the gamut from lampshading plot holes to creating moments of pure awesome. Not all are good, but many are excellent.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/396561/Lady-Alila Lady Alila]]
* Recommended by: Meimay.
* She focuses on Femshep/Garrus but at the same time love to explore the "what if"s from all 3 games: what if Garrus decided to tag along in the Omega DLC, what if the clone managed to replace Shepard and fooled her crew in the Citadel DLC, how much affect Mindoir really had on Shepard and the likes. Well-written action scenes, good characterizations, heart-warming and well-placed romances, plots twists and intense cliff-hangers to make you want more. This author's fics are a must read.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3873840/LogicalPremise LogicalPremise]]
* Recommended by: [=KhaosKyuubi=], [=RapidR3DR=], [=Luppo564=], [=Katkiller-V=]
* Author of the masterfully written "Of Sheep and Battle Chicken" fanfiction and the AU surrounding it. In addition to the fic itself, as well as the planned and, according to the author, outlined sequels, this Author has written numerous pieces of work that help to flesh out the world and the characters therein. Reading them is not necessary to enjoy the main work, but it will enhance the experience. As for the fic itself it is nothing short of a masterpiece. While it is certainly darker than the source material it is by no means GrimDark for the sake of being GrimDark, and it all feels very fleshed out and organic. The AU contains several OCs that, while important to the plot, do not play a major role in it and do not in any way, shape or form eclipse the main protagonists. Plus it includes plenty of both dark, and not-so-dark humor in addition to tense and tightly-written action and tender and heartwarming moments.
* Seconded , this guy is incredible, he's basically re-written the entire backstory and setting of ''Mass Effect'' with hints of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' and Shadowrun, without lots of blatant references. I really recommend the Cerberus Files, a complete document on the histories and militarys of the asari and salarians.
* Thirded. This is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm not even a fan of pairing with Liara. Or asari in general. The world for this fic is incredibly fleshed out- seriously, the author has several entire fics acting as supporting documents for the universe, that he's pretty much made free to use.
* Fourthed. Starts mildly AU and just runs from there, and basically takes anything boring, lame, or unexplained about mass effect and spins one-off sentences and characters that are brought up once as a joke in the game into vital OC's who are integral to the plot in brilliant ways. Plus, the author is one of the fanfiction authors I've seen who most understands the importance of editing and is a good writer to boot.
** [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/OfSheepAndBattleChicken The OSABC series now has a tropes page]].
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[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/3373401/Melaradark Melaradark]]
* Recommended by: @/ZhenraZeyro
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[[http://skoolmunkee.tumblr.com/ Munkeestuff]]
* Recommended by: Firebert
* Tumblr that features some hilarious drawings featuring Javik. Warning: Contains ''ME 3'' spoilers.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2407457/ RaeDMagdon]]
* The writer who singlehandedly created the Aria/Tevos ship, and then proceeded to run with it in stories that span multiple generations, featuring excellent characterization and lots stupidly well written erotica. Also available on [[http://raedmagdon.tumblr.com/ tumblr]] and [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/RaeDMagdon/works Ao3]]!
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[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1556242/sinvraal Sinvraal]]
* Recommended by: @/EchoGarrote, Damsel of Distress, Spark Moon, Universitas, Joysweeper, Estelindis, @/LavanyaSix
* Writer of the excellent Iunctio fic, mentioned below, as well as the Wrex fic also under her name. She also has written several more fic expanding her own version of the ''Mass Effect'' universe. Some fluff, an excellent story that happened between the two games that features Cerberus as the antagonists. She has recently finished writing her fic for the sequel called Exitus, which has the same superior quality of Inuctio, including a POV from [[spoiler: Legion]] that's unique, in character, and brilliant.
** Spark Moon: Indeed. 'Exitus' is especially remarkable, as it handles elements from the sequel in a very thoughtful and mature manner, especially into comparison with other post-Horizon fix fics. I would also like to add that her Shepard is a diamond in the rough and the enormous gravitas of the situation -Horizon included- is handled with a certain believability that is greatly welcomed in the fandom. I also have to give her '''major''' praise for having the guts to [[spoiler: kill off characters like Jack, Zaeed and Thane]] in ''Exitus'', which is sure to fly in the face of a reader who hopes for a ''No Man Left Behind''-esque ending. Her sole ''Franchise/DragonAge'' story -focusing on a criminally overlooked character- is worth noting too.
** Behenian: Sinvraal writes well, and Exitus is well done, although her guts led the story to non-canonical places. For example, while Jack [[spoiler: can die in the suicide mission, Exitus has her offed fighting the Collectors boarding the ship.]] In-game, a cutscene shows all the squadmates boarding the shuttle with Shepard. Contrast with Exitus, where [[spoiler: Jack's not the only squadmate helping Joker; Thane and Zaeed are present also.]] That might well be a better version of events than the original game, but the reason the suicide mission has a ''Men Left Behind''-esque ending is that [[spoiler: Zaeed attempts to assassinate Shepard, and Thane prevents it, dying himself in the process]]. There is no climactic leap by Shepard across to Normandy's hatch: rather, [[spoiler: a psychologically broken Shepard is blackmailed and pushed into survival -- to further a romance subplot.]]
*** Barachiel: Agreed. The first half of Exitus is even better done than the first story, but I find the liberties taken to be a bit much. Never mind the changes to the events, which I can argue improve the story. Her Shepard veers hard into Wangs-y Deathseeker territory to further prop up the love story. I found it really disconcerting, and thought it weakened the character of Shepard rather severely.
** Joysweeper: Seriously, Sinvraal is by far my favorite ''Mass Effect'' writer. She writes the scenes I like most, in-between scenes, and main scenes through the eyes of someone who has different perspectives; she never writes from Shepard's perspective, allowing the Commander to be all mysterious; calls Shepard Shepard instead of her first name; and I like her crew interactions and the way she writes biotics. The only complaint I have is Kelly Chambers. Felt kind of out of left field. If Drew Karpyshyn turned writing the ''Mass Effect'' books over to her, I wouldn't mind much.
*** Behenian: Specifically, Chambers [[spoiler: is turfed from the ship, with ignominy, half-way through the events of the game]] -- another hardly canonical moment, and that is but the rift within the lute. I mean, it's a break in continuity [[spoiler: and a stretch given Chambers' character]], if a dramatic moment and well-written; and it is only the start, as Sinvraal acknowledges in afterwords... By the time of Certus, the events of [=ME3=] are barely recognizable.
** Estelindis: Agreed with all the above. Sinvraal keeps the characters true to their origins while adding vastly more detail and depth. Yet she does this without going on an information overload. Every little aspect is carefully chosen, and together they create an incredible effect (like a mosaic). While I enjoy Drew's novels, I find her writing style superior in nearly every way (praise for Sinvraal, not scorn for Drew). She happens to be quite happy working at her current job, but I would be delighted if a writing job opened up at Bioware that she was able and willing to take.
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Twitter #Solcomms
* Recommended (posthumously) by [=Blacksun388=]
* Synopsis: Fan made twitter page (now defunct) that chronicled the the Reaper invasion on Earth from the perspective of every day people around the world. People sent messages from military units, government officials, civilians, rescue operations teams, and local law enforcement across this board and wrote short stories and blogs about their own experiences.
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[[http://shannon.users.sonic.net/masseffect/ The Unofficial Mass Effect Epilogue Slides]]
* Recommended by: S1duri, [=DudeL=], brodyaga, digiman619
* Fan-made epilogue generator for ''Mass Effect 3''
** [=DudeL=]: I highly endorse this. I know at first the ending leaves a bad taste because of the amount of sacrifice and uncertainty but it still leaves a large opportunity for hope in the universe. This little endeavor shows how feasible that hope is and that the game isn't ruined. Might give an idea for what the Extended Cut will be like.
** digiman619: I second this; even after the Extended Cut came out, it still gives the finality that you want, as the Extended Cut just gave a "Things aren't ''totally'' screwed, we'll get over it" ending, and this gives finality not only to the universe, but to the people you saved the galaxy with and that meant something to you.
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[[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/2028268 The Wacky Fun-time Audio Thread]]
* Recommended by: [[http://kcblood2cheep.blogspot.com LoganLee88]], pcy623, @/{{Firebert}}
* A hysterical NSFW thread with edited audio from ''Mass Effect 2'', with pairings such as Male Shepard/Zaeed, Miranda/Jack, Grunt/Tali, Tali/Legion, Jacob/Kasumi and Thane/Samara, it's bound to put you in stitches if you aren't already uncomfortable hearing their "getting shot" audio as TheImmodestOrgasm. The way the creator pieced dialogue from the game together is more banter than you can find in the original game. Besides that, the thread includes Easter Eggs: cut audio from ''Mass Effect 2''.
** pcy623: That gave me the giggles.
** @/{{Firebert}}: Rite of Passage made me laugh out loud. "And he's a big one." "Impressive!"
** The BioWare forums have since gone offline, so here's an alternative link to the [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160804055821/https://forum.bioware.com/topic/102634-bobbytheis-wacky-fun-time-audio-edit-thread-updated-411/ Internet Archive]] where all the links from the forum post are still stored. While the links to the audio files aren't properly archived themselves, the original outbound links are still live and can be used to download the audio files.
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[[https://zirconaworks.com/ark-angel/ ZirconaWorks]]
* Recommended by: heirofapophis
* This author is only semi-active on Archive of our Own but has a pretty solid series going on of Shakarian fics that are (awesomely) illustrated as well.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:Alternate Universe Fics]]
[[folder:Alternate Universe Fics]]
''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12651245/1/A-Call-to-Duty A Call To Duty]]'' by Z98
* Recommended by Tropers/SuperTulle
* ''Status'': Complete, with a sequel that was last updated the 5th June, 2020.
* ''Synopsis'': Relations between the Terran Empire and the Citadel have been tense since the First Contact War, but efforts to reach amicable relations were bearing fruit. The discovery of a Prothean relic on Eden Prime offered another opportunity to improve relations, until things go badly awry. As Cadre, one of the emperor's chosen, Shepherd is charged with determining the truth, at any cost.
* ''Comments'': Z98 is an excellent author with a number of fics with their own pages here. This fic explores what would happen if humanity was ruled by a constitutional monarchy a la the United Kingdom when the events of [=ME1=] start happening. Z98 also changes or expands on several things that felt a bit rushed in the games.
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''Fanfic/CatalystExe'' by Shujin
* Recommended by: GLH
* Status: Dormant
* Synopsis: A doctor named Rebecca wakes up on Ilos, trapped within the memory banks of a Prothean computer. After adjusting to her new situation and creating an android body for herself, she sets about to preventing the canonical plot by doing her best to fortify Ilos, and prevent Saren from utilizing the Mass Relay to sneak Sovereign into the Citadel. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned because the reality she woke up in is not exactly the same one as in the games due to [[spoiler:the things she remembers actually being a simulation created by an insane Reaper looking to get one last [[BestServedCold Fuck You]] on Harbinger and the rest of the Reapers]]. Whoops.
* Comments: Lots of unintentional situations due to faulty information, misunderstandings, and bad decisions.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35524642 Lazarus Shunned]]'' by TwoEyedCharlie
* Recommended by: DoctorpooandtheTURDIS
* ''Status'': In Progress
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Cerberus has spent billions of credits trying to bring Commander Jane Shepard back from the dead, and despite the odds it seems to be working. Then a saboteur inside of Cerberus makes his move and Shepard's resurrection takes a horrific turn, leaving the Alliance, Shepard's old team, and Cerberus scrambling to control the situation...all while the Collectors begin their harvest of humanity. An AU "What If?" story where the Shepard that wakes up on Lazarus Station isn't the same person that died over Alchera.''
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8993389/1/Legacy-of-One Legacy of One]]'' by Salmon Center
* Recommended by: Magyareagle
* ''Status'': Dormant (last updated December 2017)
* ''Synopsis'': AU, Shepard didn't care much for glory or fame. Only that what she was due was returned in full. But, an oversight in her part to repay her debts to Commander Alenko, tips her silent world into the clutches of the Reaper War. Set post-''[=ME1=]'' till end of ''[=ME2=]''. Eventual [=FemShep=]/Garrus.
* ''Comments'': One of the most original and interesting AU fics I've read. It expands on a briefly mentioned sidequest in ''Mass Effect'' regarding the League of One, and expands upon it, building a fascinating and unique Shepard around it. It takes the usual premise of an alternate Commander Shepard, and spins it on its head by not having her be commander at all, instead giving the Normandy and its crew to Commander Alenko, the first Human Spectre. He is the one Cerberus chooses to resurrect, and as a result she never dies in the first place. The way this effects the crew and characters is done in realistic and believable way, and I love the fact that the characters actually act like adults instead of angsty teenagers. The writing is excellent, and I highly recommend the story.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/3640305/chapters/8041803 Sins of the Father]]'' by [=MsWikit=]
* Recommended by: Tropers/{{Theriocephalus}}
* ''Status'': Complete. A sequel, ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/11825832/chapters/26687001 Needs of the Many]]'', is in progress, but only has one chapter and has not updated since 2017.
* ''Pairings'': Fem!Shep/Nihlus Kryik
* ''Synopsis'': During a mission on Mindoir, Saren discovers a recently orphaned human who shows incredible promise. Believing he can mold her into the Spectre she was obviously meant to be, Saren adopts her and raises her as his own. He comes to realize that the galaxy is full of dangers -- and resolves to protect his daughter from all of them. The story then follows Jane Shepard -- or, here, Jane Arterius -- as she grows up as Saren's adopted daughter, even as their relationship steadily deteriorates as Saren slips further and further into the Reapers' sway as the events of the games approach.
* ''Comments'': This is an absolutely fantastic story. The writing is extremely good, and the characters' voices, motivations and development are very well-done. Saren and Jane's relationship in particular is fascinating to follow, and starts out in a very sweet and sentimental manner before taking a turn for the tragic. I heartily recommend reading this story.
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''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/til-i-change-your-mind-mass-effect-krogan-si.1036170/ Til I Change Your Mind]]'' by [=Stratagemini=]
* Recommended by: Thors_Alumni
* "Status": Ongoing with 55 chapters
* "Synopsis": The most surveilled Krogan in the Galaxy tries to obtain a happy ending to the Reaper War. Hijinks ensue.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:General Fics]]
[[folder:A-H]]
''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.''
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5639538/1/Accidental_Hero_of_the_Galaxy Accidental Hero of the Galaxy]]'' by Random Equinox
* Recommended by: Bufu, Deep Recon, Mavado, Magyareagle
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Commander Shepard. Hero of the Skyllian Blitz. First human Spectre. [[KleptomaniacHero Kleptomaniac]] [[RunningGag Hero]] Potential savior of humanity and the known galaxy. Pity no one asked him what HE thought of all this.
* ''Comments'': If you're already familiar with and enjoyed the Ciaphas Cain books set in the ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' universe, you should enjoy this fic as well. It's sets up Shepard as a pragmatic soul that always wants to paint himself as a self-serving Fake Ultimate Hero with good luck for getting into escalating scraps--all the while showing extraordinary heroism that belays his self-deprecation. The internal monologue is quite funny, lampshading many of the game's somewhat nonsensical situations. Furthermore, the interactions between the squad members is a joy to read, seeing their relationships grow from strained to a band of brothers forged in battle. I'm surprised nobody had already posted this one--especially the Warhammer 40,000/ME fans among us that I see enjoyed Dreadnaught!Shepard in Iron Rebirth below. --Bufu
** One of the biggest appeals of the Literature/CiaphasCain series was how readers could see perfectly well ''why'' Cain was revered as a hero, but his internal monologues and thoughts make it clear that he doesn't want anything to do with that sort of reputation. ''Accidental Hero of the Galaxy'' follows in the same vein: Shepard is clearly rolling along the Paragon path, but his every decision is clearly influenced by his desire to keep his own hide safe while making sure people don't grow to revile him. Similarly, both Cain and Shepard have a clearly lower opinion of themselves than they ought to, as acknowledge by Amberly and Anderson, respectively. Cain and Shepard are generally motivated by self-preservation, but there are times when they're clearly acting genuinely heroic and try to write it off as more of the same. Their desire to be innocuous is so strong that they'll deny heroism even when it ''isn't'' accidental, also playing to the great flaw that both characters have rather low self-esteem. --Deep Recon
**
** A bit of FridgeBrilliance-- Shepard in this fic is an Infiltrator. Think about how that class fights... and how it fits perfectly with his character.
** YMMV. It can be interesting, but the primary appeal of Ciaphas Cain is not only the FakeUltimateHero that is zig-zagged, but also the over the top nature of Warhammer 40,000 being Lampshaded. Cain being a good commissar instead of a BadBoss, Inquisitor Vail being competent, etc. Without those elements, the fic is enjoyable, but (arguably) not to the same degree that the Ciaphas Cain series is.
** I'd say comparing the stories to Ciaphas Cain is a bit unfair. The brilliance of the stories is not because of their similarities to Cain, but because of how unique and fresh the voice of Shepard is. He has a bit of Cain in him, but the point of the stories is to create a genre savvy Shepard who is a mixture of rogue and charm without it being over the top or silly. I enjoyed the series quite a bit.
*** While I agree that the ''series'' tries to do this, I argue that the first story is far more true to the Cain Name. Later entries into the series would have the Shepard described in the post above... but my point remains.
*
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/7885876 Ad Infinitum]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/AnneWhynn/pseuds/AnneWhynn AnneWhynn]]
*
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': The end has come. Elrika Shepard is faced with a choice. But, for once, Elrika Shepard turns to words instead of bullets in a desperate attempt to stave off the end.
* ''Comments'': A wonderful fanmade ''5th'' choice for the finale.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9052124/1/Aftermath Aftermath]]'' by [=RobinFoster=]
* Recommended by: achus93again
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Post-Mass Effect 3 – Destroy Ending, Paragon, Spacer, Soldier, Liara romance. Based on experiences of Commander Jess Shepard, Alliance Soldier and Human Spectre. Jess Shepard was certain the end to the Reapers would be the end to her as well. When she finds herself alive instead she struggles to pick up the pieces and find her way again.
* ''Comments'': Wonderful story that captures the events that could potentially happen Post-Reaper War, not to mention bits and pieces of fanservice dropped by the author. It's a happy ending to one of the most gut-wrenching endings for the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7048114/1/Aliens_are_Weird Aliens Are Weird]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2245016/KiwiDayDreams KiwiDayDreams]]
* Recommended by: Kuro Rei, @/{{Alynnidalar}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': AU. Shepard and Garrus meet when they're much younger at the Citadel childcare center. Garrus has never seen a human before and Shepard has never seen a Turian up close. Shenanigans ensue as they both find out that aliens are really weird.
* ''Comments'': A cute one-shot with Shepard and Garrus as completely normal kids. Bit of a long read, but will put a smile on your face. Cameos with Wrex and Conrad.
** Recommendation seconded by @/{{Alynnidalar}}. This is just plain ''adorable!'' You can definitely see that even when they were young, Garrus and Shepard (in this case, a female Spacer Shepard, most likely Paragon) had the foundations for the awesome people we know and love today. And Wrex's cameo is fantastic. Sure, we tend to think of him as the big, bad battlemaster who can crush a Geth prime by glaring at it too hard, but somehow it still fits him that he'd be nice to kids.
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'' Fanfic/AndTheMeekShallInheritTheGalaxy[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9156000/1/And-the-Meek-Shall-Inherit-the-Galaxy ]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4156181/Full-Paragon Full-Paragon]]
* Completed
* Recommended by: eduardogranja, Kalvan
* ''Synopsis'': When Captain Rael'Zorah decides to check out strange activity at Relay 314 due to a slight shift in the path of the Migrant Fleet, he finds more then just Turians. Hannah Shepard becomes one of the first humans to ever meet an alien, and first contact for humanity begins not with a war, but with gifts for a young John Shepard and Tali'Zorah. AU First contact, human/Quarian.
* Pairings: [=MShepard=]/Tali (ToyShip at the moment) Hackett/OC Quarian Admiral, Henry Lawson/Daro'Xen [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer I am not making this up!]]!
* Tags: NotSafeForWork due to graphic violence in some chapters, as the [[spoiler: Relay 314 Incident still happened and was a little worse in this fic]]. Also, [[spoiler: Jack was spared Teltin... because she was raised by Krogan instead]].
* Comments: The complete change from the canon is refreshing, with the Quarians and humans integrating in a completely different level. The fanfic progresses to a [[spoiler: cold war between the Council and the Quarian/human/Krogan "League" and the whole galaxy is a lot more well armed]]. Extra points for the young squadmates appearing a lot, specially Jack and Miranda.
* An interesting AU fic asking what if human First Contact had happened with the Quarians, and then the Turians had accidentally fired on an unarmed hospital ship, causing the Quarians to come to its rescue. Note that while some things turn out for the happier, particularly for the Quarians, other things look to be turning for the worse. For example, the [[spoiler: Batarians]] look to be getting a council seat soon, as a means to box humans in at the Local and Exodus Clusters, and [[spoiler:it looks like all the Geth will be supporting Sovereign]].
** YMMV on some of these. For those who read a lot of ''Mass Effect'' fan fiction, parts of it read as a tiny bit of human wank, and the grammar/word choice sometimes comes across as lacking. The Human/Quarian alliance also comes about a little too fast for my tastes, happening mere ''days'' after first contact. Humanity also comes across as somewhat hive-minded, with most people agreeing with the group consensus, which is particularly strange for a ''Mass Effect'' story (where humans are noted to have much more variety than other species (we see Colonists who want nothing to do with the Alliance and Cerberus, just for the most obvious examples in the games). The Tali-Shepard romance feels somewhat forced and wooden, and character interactions are ''not'' where this story shines. On the other hand, it's fairly enjoyable, with deep plots, secret agreements, and machiavellian scheming. It also genuinely makes the process of indoctrination terrifying, something that many other stories simply gloss over in favor of using it to make bad guys. In short, I'd recommend, but take it with a grain of salt that it's not gonna be one of the best. -Sithking Zero
** Started off very well, was very moving as a piece about a noblebright humanity going out into the galaxy. Writing was more or less unpolished, not technically great by any stretch of the imagination, but it was easily overlooked as the complex plot moved forwards. Character shipping got out of hand, but it's fanfiction, largely forgiveable. But it got more stale as time went on, and has become somewhat preachy from the author's own religious viewpoint, particularly with the sequel. The first story is worth your time, the sequel isn't. -GGI
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11395652/1/Beacon-s-Effect Beacon's Effect]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5406511/Tusken1602 Tusken1602]]
* Recommended by: Katkiller V
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': " A young man on earth stumbles across a prothean beacon on earth, and makes the mistake of touching it. He is promptly struck by lightning, killed, while a Leviathan elects to send his mind to the ''Mass Effect'' universe to try and adjust things a bit. The first story covers ''Mass Effect 1'', the second the time between ''1'' and ''2'', with the third working its way through ''Mass Effect 2''. The fourth and final story has just begun, and will cover ''Mass Effect 3''.
* ''Comments'': A self-insert fic with a slightly unusual twist, the main character eventually realizing that he isn't the only consciousness inhabiting his body and how he has to deal with the other personalities. The first story is a little rough, both in terms of style and in terms of the author struggling with the over-powered SI that he had created, but things massively improve as the series continues.
** Now with three sequels:
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11610064/1/Beacon-s-Effect-2-Reborn Reborn]]'' (Complete)
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11964674/1/Beacon-s-Effect-3-Awakening Awakening]]'' (Complete)
*** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12275989/1/Beacon-s-Effect-4-Reckoning Reckoning]]'' (Complete)
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''[[http://santi01.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2t4qqh Black Moon Rising]]'' by santi01
* Recommended by: @/DrJekyl
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': " A by-the-book detective finds a her simple investigation into odd rumours of drink spiking in Eternity spiraling out of control. Soon she and an unconventional asari matriarch are tearing up Nos Astra in pursuit of answers and maybe a little revenge.
* ''Comments'': A ''Mass Effect''-flavoured classic buddy-cop drama with a noir twist. Action, adventure and arse-kicking with beats of humour. Plus, Matriarch Aethyta, who's always a winner. The link goes to the first installment; for the rest you'll unfortunately need to go through the author's deviant art account.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/25793140/chapters/62649412 Born From Ashes]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/HeronBlues/pseuds/HeronBlues HeronBlues]]
* Recommended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis'': John Shepard was the only person rescued after the attack on Mindoir, but it was seeing his little sister Jane taken by Batarians that truly made him into "the Butcher of Torfan". When he finds out she may still be alive, he dedicates himself to rescuing her. But even if he does, after thirteen years as a slave, would there be anything left of the girl he knew?
* ''Comments'': An interesting way to have both John and Jane be canon, though at times it's ''extremely'' dark, dealing unflinchingly with child abuse, rape, slavery, and some '''nightmarishly''' severe PTSD for more than a few characters. Also does a deep dive into how Garrus built his team on Omega, Tali's life in the Migrant Fleet, and an alternate origin for the Andromeda Initiative.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6352739/1/ Broken Wings]]'' by Coombs
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''After the destruction of the Normandy, Joker is grounded and returns to Arcturus Station. Cerberus recruits him. Rated M for strong language and sexual content.''
* ''Comments'': It's quite an angsty take on Joker's reactions after the crash. Might be a bit drawn out, but worth it for the relationship explorations.
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''[[http://fanfiction.net/s/5515134/1/Cause_and_Effect Cause and Effect]]'' by Raven Studios
* Recommended by: [=Pyrotorch246=], @/{{Randomfanboy}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Pre-Mass Effect. Jalissa Shepard meant to stay a farmer on Mindoir after high school. And then the Batarians came. 100 prompts. 1,000 words. From Mindoir, through basic, to Elysium, to just before boarding the Normandy. Snapshots of Shepard's life." --official Summary by author. Pretty much as written.
* ''Comments'': Literally a bunch of 1,000 word vignettes interspaced throughout Shepard's life from Mindoir to right before the beginning of the game. Exceptionally well written. Now has a sequel concerning the events of the first game, with plans to continue the series through the end of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''.
** Fair warning -- this is ''dark''. Jalissa Shepard is one of the biggest {{Iron Woobie}}s I've ever read, and the other characters in the sequel series all become even bigger woobies than they already are. It's definitely not bad, but reading it all in one go can push you across the DespairEventHorizon.
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''[[http://fanfiction.net/s/6083201/1 Cause and Effect: Newton's First Law]]'' by Raven Studios
* Recommended by: [=Pyrotorch246=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A sequel to ''Cause and Effect'' that picks up with Shepard's transfer to the Normandy and covers the first game.
* ''Comments'': This fic is in the same style as its predecessor -- 1,000 word chapters that are something of a slice of life look at Shepard and her crew as they go through the events of the original ''Mass Effect''. At 246 chapters, it has definitely reached DoorStopper status.
** And now a second sequel, for ''Mass Effect 2'', entitled [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8013630/1/Mass_Effect_Newtons_Second_Law Newton's Second Law]] (Complete)
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9679648/1/Children-of-Nemesis Children of Nemesis]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1935525/Solaris242 Solaris242]]
* Recommended by: [=BrownieInMotion=]
* Status: Probably Dead (Last updated January 2015)
* ''Synopsis'': "There was a theory once, about Nemesis, the Dark Star. Stillborn twin to the sun, it wandered the void, black and cold, and every 25 thousand years, came back home. AU."
* ''Comments'': Once again, [=Solaris242=] comes through with an innovative, unique take on humans and their role in the ''Mass Effect'' 'verse. The author's tendency to Humanity Wank balances with a refreshing look into settings and circumstances that typically go unexplored, and, let's face it--seeing the humans kick ass is a lot of fun. Only a few chapters have been released, however; his/her other work, ''Transcendent Humanity'', seems to have priority at the moment.
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''[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/mass-effect-conception-warning-spoilers.219158/ Conception]]'' by [=lloyd007=]
* Recommended by: @/GentlemensDame883
* ''Status'': Dead; thread last updated November 2016
* ''Synopsis'': ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' ending AU. [[spoiler:The Reapers took Humanity and made it one of their own,]] but Mankind will not bow so easily. Warning: CosmicHorrorStory ahead.
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''Fanfic/CrucibleMassEffect'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4286077/SirArthurNudge SirArthurNudge]]
* Recommended by: Mei-may
* Status: First book completed, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11342536/1/Destiny Sequel]] dormant (last updated May 2017).
* Prequel: [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9366808/1/Refuge Refuge]]
* Companion fic/Alternative Future fic [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9194901/1/Interference Interference]]
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9329069/1/Familia-Ante-Omnia Familia Ante Omnia]]''
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9077219/1/Mothers-and-Father Mothers and Fathers]]''
** ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9073380/1/The-First-Hello The First Hello]]''
* Pairing: femShep/Garrus, Miranda/Victus, Tali/Vega, [=OCs/OCs=].
* Warning: This fic contain gore, child molestation and DeathOfAChild, read at your own risks.
* ''Synopsis'': Jane Shepard has ended the Reaper War but sometimes the end is just the beginning as a ship from [[BadFuture a future]] appears to save her from the ruin of the Crucible. As Shepard meets leader of the ship, Lantar Sidonis together with his crews of [[HalfHumanHybrid turian-human hybrids]], one of which is Gaius, her and Garrus's son; she discover that not only there is a force that even more powerful than the Reapers is lurking to devour this universe but the world is also consisting of many things that mortals cannot see.
* ''Comments'': Good plot with many complex {{OC}}s and plot twists. There are many of heartwarming scenes just as many of TearJerker and very dark moments. Despite the clear cut between the good and bad guys, many times the author brings up the "gray" of the world to make us think and discuss over it. The way the CosmicHorrorStory elements in the original games are taken up to eleven but still retaining Sci-fi elements is also quite creative. The grammar still need some works but the author said they will polish everything again after the story is finished. That said, many of you may not agree with [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation some characterizations]] in this story (Like Hackett being a man who put human's benefits on top everything and has no qualm about doing immoral things or [[spoiler: Tali siding with her Quarian's family and betray her comrades)]]. Overalls, there are flaws in this story but it's definitely worth a try.
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''[[http://thatsnotme7.livejournal.com/767.html Destroyed]]'' by That'sNotMe
* Recommended by: [=Tov01=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After destroying the Reapers, Shepard is recovered from the rubble and begins her slow recovery. But the physical wounds are far easier to heal than the psychological one as she struggles to come to terms with the decision she made on the Citadel.
* ''Comments'': A very well done one-shot that is equal parts heartwarming and tear jerker.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5031104/1/The_Distress_Call The Distress Call]]'' by [=Knightfall1138o=]
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Many decisions lie ahead. Most of them pointless.
* ''Comments'': A nice parody about the trailer where Shepard turns away the distress call from Noveria. We see off-camera behind the scenes as the victims of Noveria tried to make sense with the rejection, as they are being bombed to death while Shepard was busy picking up minerals at his leisure.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12445583/1/Eden Eden]]'' by Darkdanny
* Recommended by: Herpderpded
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Do you think they will remember us? Will what we did here even matter a week from now? Was any of this worth it?"
* '' Comments'': Part of Darkdanny's PTSD series which is a series of interconnected stories based around the misery of fighting the Reapers. This story takes a break from Shepard and instead focuses around a turian and a human military officers trapped on Eden Prime after the Reapers hit. Darkdanny has proven himself time and time again with writing original characters, This story is no different and with his new one scene a chapter policy he has blown through this story in record time and with minimal errors. Warning: I needed tissues at the end of it.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7926888/1/An-Elegant-Solution An Elegant Solution]]'' by James Golen
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard isn't a soldier; he's an engineer. ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' Ending-spoilers
* ''Comments'': This is an ''Mass Effect 3'' ending fic. The writing is concise and pleasant, the Shepard is original and smart. Strong dialogue between an engineer and a giant god-like computer.
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''[[http://jtav.livejournal.com/52709.html Engineered]]'' by jtav
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Miranda's father considers his dynasty, his daughter, and the man in her life.'' Contains M!Shepard/Miranda, but it's technically not a shipping fic in the conventional sense.
* ''Comments'': A chilling story from the POV of Miranda's father concerning an issue that to this day still divides Miranda's fanbase. Miranda herself is quite in character (I winced at one of her suggestions, but regardless of personal feelings, it was in-character of her to say), which is a plus. A short, but well-done read.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5809961/1/Exitus Exitus]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1556242/sinvraal Sinvraal]]
* Recommended by: owlbot, [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' Explorations, variations and off-camera moments from the ''Mass Effect 2'' storyline. Multiple character [=POVs=].
* ''Comments:'' An excellent fic weaving in and out of the [=ME2=] storyline, expanding on character viewpoints and weaving subplots in and out. Fem!Shep seems to be more of a Paragade rather than a particularly clean-cut Paragon or Renegade, which makes her own personal interactions and plots quite a bit more interesting. Also includes one of the most utterly fantastic portrayals of Legion ever witnessed in Franchise/MassEffect fanfic history.
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''Fanfic/FightForTheLost'' by [=LuxDragon=]
* Recommended by: biodude711, extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Synopsis'': "Entire human colonies are vanishing. To save humanity, the galaxy's best and toughest individuals come together to form an unlikely team, all led by one very specific man." A novelization of ''Mass Effect 2''.
* Status: Complete
* Pairing: M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson, Jacob Taylor/Kasumi Goto, other shippings implied.
* ''Comments'': As stated before, this story is VERY well written and not only focuses on the characterization of Commander Shepard but the rest of crew and team as well as they prepare for their suicide mission to stop the Collectors. The author does take some liberty with some of the game mechanics, but these changes don't take away from the story and help to make the story more believable. Very highly recommended and a must read for fans of ''Mass Effect 2''.
** An outstanding piece and proof that fanfiction need not always be trash, but actually holds the potential to transcend the original material and take on a life of its own. ''Fight for the Lost'' is the premiere ''Mass Effect'' fanfic on the entire internet. The narrative is true to the themes, narrative, and setting of the story in ''Mass Effect 2'', while the author still finds room to inject new dialogue and plot points to further enrich the experience and sets this work apart from its peers. Bonus points to Miri/Shepard fans, this is your treat on the house. More points for including the respective perspectives of virtually every team member and crewman on the ''Normandy'', and even some minor [=NPCs=]. [[spoiler:More bonus points to Shepard's duel with Harbinger after destroying the human-Reaper embryo. His ''solo'' duel with Harbinger.]]
** This story is a ''[[{{Doorstopper}} loooong]]'' one, and every minute reading it is well spent. The author perfectly captures the spirit of the game. With all of the new, [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]], or reimagined scenes and the exploration into the characters' thoughts and viewpoints, this fic has finally earned [[Fanfic/FightForTheLost its own page on this site.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7921641/1/The-Final-Problem The Final Problem]]'' by Mighty Crouton
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': How do you solve an impossible problem? A story of indoctrination, chaos, and freedom. Sequel to Kingdom of Rust
* ''Comments'': There are a lot of stories floating out there with unique ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' endings, but this one takes the cake. Crouton really dives into ''ME''[='=]s themes -- free will, control, chaos, order, right, and wrong. One of the most interesting takes on indoctrination, and his Shepard remains very unique and incredibly intriguing. She's like the brain child of Dr. Who, Lisbeth Salander, and Sherlock, and an incredibly flawed AntiHero. The first chapter is a wonderful 1st person account of someone who Crouton hints is brilliant yet egotistical and makes for a terrible human but a wonderful reaper killer.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7278544/1/First_Contact First Contact]]'' by Animus of Masada
* Recommended by: {{@/Alynnidalar}}, Tropulastic, [=BioD=]
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis:'' An asari exploration vessel discovers Earth in the 2030's...and the first contact scenario has incredible implications for both species. What does humanity look like through alien eyes? Where do they go from here?
* ''Comments:'' An interesting look at what would happen if humanity became part of the galactic community TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture--and, more importantly, if the asari were the first to meet us, rather than the Turians. As you can imagine, things turn out quite peacefully... although there are hints at darker conspiracies revolving around this new species. Starts off very light-hearted and comedic (humanity's first words to an alien species are pretty classic), slowly turning more serious as it continues, but never entirely losing the light-heartedness.
** Liking it so far. I'm a sucker for the HumansThroughAlienEyes trope, and even if there seem to be a few mistakes in accuracy, I'm liking the RousseauWasRight undertones of the first contact.
** It's something of a ScrapBookStory. The anachronic order and multiple format story telling (from the normal prose to [[FictionalDocument fake alien essays]]) are interesting and provides some incredibly emotional moments. If the recovery of [[spoiler:the Mars rovers]] doesn't make you well up a little you might lack empathy all together.
** It starts off really good, and never really gets bad, but after a while, it starts to be less story, and more reports on humanity that come off very pro-human. It spends entire chapters going on about how great humanity is in a very essay like format, and while it was interesting when these reports were only a paragraph or two and added to the story, they become very dry and repetitive fast, have no real impact on the plot, and in fact, start pushing the plot out of the way to the point where you're lucky to get a paragraph of actual story every chapter after chapter 8 or so. Around this point, you could very well tear the reports out, and have lost nothing of importance from the ongoing story. The plot itself suffers a lot as it goes on, going from fairly well paced, to a slow crawl. The anachronistic order can get confusing, and as the story goes on it gets dropped, with the author not even bothering to add dates anymore because he's no longer switching between the different times. Not a bad fic, but not great, and it hasn't been updated in about 3 years now, so could possibly be dead.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8293708/1/ Forfeit]]'' by artistic mishap
* Recommended by: Full-Paragon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Admiral Hackett must deal with running a post-reaper Earth, and deal with the fact that his daughter, Riley Shepard, is likely dead.
* ''Tags'': Has some very disturbing but realistic looks at likely fall out from a Destroy ending. Rated T, drama/tragedy.
* ''Comments'': Very well written,very intimate look into Stephen Hackett's mind and answers the question of just who Shepard's father is. Has a Garrus/Shepard Hackett/Hanna Shepard pairings, but those may be on hold due to death or trauma.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7089866/1/Friends_Like_These Friends Like These]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Pyjak, @/USABobcat, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Takes place towards the start of [=ME2=]. Tali begins to notice Shepard disappearing from the ship at odd times and convinces Garrus, Joker and Dr. Chakwas to follow him to find out why.
* ''Comments'': Funny while staying completely in character, with the kind of sniping and bitching you'd expect from people who spend waaaay too much time together. The humor comes completely from knowing the characters, as opposed to having dialogue filled with a bunch of OOC one liners. Becomes even funnier when they catch up to Shepard and [[spoiler: discover he's ducking out so he can escape a diet imposed by Miranda and has been doing so for months. It becomes a battle of wills between Garrus who wants to turn him in, and Shepard who is trying his best to bribe his crew to cover for him.]]
** Freakin' hilarious. The author's got a knack for dialogue and the characters are spot on. A lot of humorfics go over the top, but this one is intelligent, well written and has a good plot for as short as it is. Shepard and Garrus's verbal sparring in the third chapter is especially fun, as is everyone teasing Tali for being a secret Shepard stalker. Also, the crew's responses when he challenges them to name the most fit person on the ship made me laugh out loud for real. Moved this one to General Fics because while funny, it focuses a lot on Garrus, Tali, Joker and the Doctor and why they are loyal to Commander Shepard.
** Seconded. Everything Pyjack said is true. A lovely taste of comedy in a universe that can be rather grim.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7829456/1/From_Hells_Heart From Hell's Heart]]'' by gtamaster316
* Recommended by: [=MetalKing1417=]
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': A fic where the so called "First Contact War" between the Humans and the Turians blossomed into a full out 47 year war between Humans and the Turians.
* ''Comments'': A surprisingly well written fic that explores the implications of what might have happened if negotiations broke down between humans in the Turians. Several Cannon characters receive different, though reasonable recharacterizations in this fic, one of the most noticeable being [[spoiler: Sarren]], who now has an entirely different view of humans thanks to an encounter with one, as well as the fact that humanity had to make some, less than savory deals with factions that other fics tend to have them at war with [[spoiler: like the Batarians]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8612869/1/From-The-Stars-We-Come From The Stars We Come]]'' by Nuclear Bacon
* Recommended by: mrtaco6
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': The life and trials of an N7 Ops Team. Four unlikely people come together to defend the galaxy from the Reaper threat.
* ''Comments'': Even at only two chapters so far, this story has ''a lot'' of promise. In my opinion, there aren't enough ''Mass Effect'' multiplayer team fics around, and this should hopefully fill the niche nicely.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4843572/1/The_Galaxy_Needs_Heroes The Galaxy Needs Heroes]]'' by paul16
* Recommended by: Tepoztecal
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''After Sovereign's death some of the aftershocks run in unexpected directions.''
* ''Comments'': It has been said of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' that the game proves GoodIsNotNice. This fic proves Shepard doesn't need to go Renegade to be a cold-blooded sociopath.
** While I would say that the story itself is actually quite good, the author is horrible with punctuation. Missing commas where there should be, a lack of scene breaks, and otherwise poor use of punctuation make for an annoyingly distracting read.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12171808/1/Gods-Monsters Gods and Monsters]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3024585/the-subverter the.subverter]] and [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2329073/The-Allusive-Man The Allusive Man]]
* Recommended by: drlequack47, @/{{Dyuran}}
* Status: Dormant(last updated September 2016)
* Synopsis: "Miranda struggles to keep a fractured Jane Shepard focused on the task of defeating the Collectors. Meanwhile, Maya Brooks steals Shepard's clone and tries to stay one step ahead of Cerberus. Pairings: It's complicated."
* Comments: It takes what was a fun and stupid,joke idea from the Citadel DLC and turns it into one of the most engaging, dark, suspenseful, and overall intriguing stories on the site. The clone, who is a throwaway character in 3, has a personality of her own and isn't just some mustache twirling villain. She's a reluctant anti-hero who doesn't know her connection to Commander Shepard, but knows they're linked regardless. Hope Lilium is fleshed out in fantastic ways. Her relationship with The Clone is developed and evolved over time. And Shepard herself is such a tragic, broken, character. Someone who died and came back, but didn't come back the same. While not a good person, you do sympathize for her. Even while not complete it is well worth the read. Check it out and leave a review.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5453047/1/Graveyard_Shift Graveyard Shift]]'' by Creator/{{Peptuck}}
* Recommended by: corin, Bufu
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': A {{Novelization}} of the first ''VideoGame/{{Mass Effect|1}}'' game, that cuts close to the plot of the original story, while still making some deviations. Features a male biotic Colonist Shepard that has aspects of both the War Hero and the Ruthless backgrounds.
* ''Comments'': Another videogame {{Novelization}} by the same author behind ''Fanfic/TiberiumWars'' and ''Fanfic/{{Forward}}''. Still just starting up (as of this point, the story has just reached the Citadel) but so far, by the reviewers' response, its a very well-written story that paints Shepard in an interesting light as both a pragmatic soldier and a traumatized veteran. Promises to be good, if the author could just keep up with regular updates.
** Rather good writing, as Tiberium Wars has already proved. To be honest, I need a little more to judge by, but what he's written so far is very intriguing. He's doing a great job of adapting the story to the medium, and with good results so far. Only complaints so far is irregular update schedule. Definitely worth the time if you would like something to read without sifting through mountains of mediocre fics.
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''[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=201713 Harvest]]'' by Nuts!
* Recommended by: [=Gore17=], hodaza, @/USABobcat, @/{{Jonn}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Was that the first time a geth asked it if had a soul?" "No. It was the first time a Creator became frightened when we asked."
* ''Comments'': Words cannot do this fic justice. Read it and remember why you love fanfic.
** Seconded
** @/USABobcat: Just a one-shot, but a very well done one-shot. Makes you feel the separation between Geth and Quarian quite well, and somehow reminds me of a mother and her children. If you like either the Geth or the Quarians, read this. It will remind you why you still comb through archives of fanfiction, for the elusive works of quality.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9530512/1/Helping-hand Helping Hand]]'' by ENECON
* Recommended by: @/DemiserofD
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A different take on Kelly's famous(or infamous) dance scene at the end of [=ME2=]. [=FemShep=] x Kelly
* ''Comments'': A very interesting(and heartwarming) take on the aforementioned dancing scene. Short, but well worth the read. WAFF incoming!
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6995396/1/The-Hero-We-Deserve The Hero We Deserve]]'' by Random Equinox
* Rexommended by @/{{DealsWithFate3}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Humans are being abducted, probably because someone has really poor taste. Shepard has to find out why and stop them with the help of a band of misfits. They say it's a suicide mission. So what else is new? [[spoiler: Well, getting killed for starters...]]
* ''Comments'': The sequel to [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5639538/1/Accidental-Hero-of-the-Galaxy Accidental Hero of the Galaxy]], and benefits from the better pacing and characterization due to the improvements in gameplay and story between ME 1 and ME 2.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8153333/1/The-Homefront The Homefront]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2538189/ The-Mass-Effect-Gamer]]
* Recommended by: survivor6861
* Status: Dormant
* Synopsis: It's 2186, and the Reapers have attacked. Major Coats learns of the true nature of the Reapers and joins forces with Admiral Anderson, and together they set out to combat this ancient enemy and hold out as they prepare for Shepard's eventual return
* Comments: One of the few fics that deal with the challenges of maintaining a resistance on a planet that is under total occupation by a race of machine overlords. Well-written, this fic is one of the few hidden gems of ME fan fiction
** [=Hedgehog1=]: Agreed. The story starts off a bit slow and the characters introduced seem a bit cookie-cutter at first, but they really start to feel real and almost canonical to me as the story progresses. His writing definitely improves in the later chapters.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8401434/1/How-Hard-Could-It-Be How Hard Could It Be?]]''
* Recommended by: @/Kirook
* Status: Main story is complete, but the author continues to add chapters based on user requests.
* Synopsis: Two years after the defeat of the Reapers, Ashley and Shepard have moved on to the next challenge, raising their daughters. Set after [=ME3=], assuming Shepard survived the Destroy ending.
* Tags: Some chapters fall under SugarWiki/{{WAFF}}, because of the [[BabiesEverAfter subject matter.]] However, other chapters do involve combat, and some invoke [[spoiler:Adult Fear.]] Some sexy stuff, but nothing explicit; this is not a {{Lemon}}.
* Comments: This fic is at various times [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments hilarious]], SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|Moments}}, and [[TearJerker tearjerking]]. Everyone is in character, and Shepard and Ashley's love of their children is written beautifully. The fic also contains an interesting look at what happens when Maddy, Shepard's oldest daughter, goes to school, and how her [[PlayerCharacter father's]] [[TheHero legacy]] affects her life.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:I-P]]
''Fanfic/IngloriousBoshtets'' by [=500MetricTonnesofPalladium=]
* Recommended by: Kalaong
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing(s):'' Tali/Shepard, though nothing more than hints and remarks from Tali's side.
* ''Synopsis:'' Tali has been stuck with a bad assignment and a worse crew after returning to the Migrant Fleet. During what should have been a routine scanning mission, HilarityEnsues and the ship time travels back to Earth, 2005... and that's just her first mission!
* ''Comments:'' A well written fic with enough humor in it to keep things light but retaining some serious moments. Some of the details of the ''Mass Effect ''universe have been sacrificed for the story, but if you can get over that it is well worth a look and at the very least Tali is beautifully in character.
** Kalaong: The name may be a reference to Creator/QuentinTarantino's [[Film/InglouriousBasterds latest hamtastic masterpiece]], but it's really about those losers that [[YouCantThwartStageOne get slaughtered in stage two]] of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. They're nowhere near as badass as the Basterds. But they are ChaoticStupid enough to be the Migrant Fleet's answer to [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 The Team]].
** This troper has named his Quarian Soldier in Prazza's honor. [[CatchPhrase WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!]] Having read both this and the sequel below, I'd say they're worth a read. Prazza truly is ChaoticStupid, but does get moments of CrazyIsCool. A rather more rounded AscendedExtra also appears, and is more badass than ever. The rest of the bunch are a decent laugh too (3 words; Krogan Death Metal!). Just don't ask them to fix your scanning equipment; it'll end in tears.
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''Fanfic/{{Interstitium}}'' by Assault Sloth
* Recommended by: Deadpool Fan, Darkholme, @/{{Firebert}}, sushemi, owlbot, Bustamouse, Vellaen, [=GrantMK2=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A series of oneshots weaving in and out of the [=ME2=] plot, focusing on major and minor character POV's alike!
* ''Comments'': The series overall does a great job of detailing some of the more minor and major characters of the ''Mass Effect'' universe. The stories give us a better idea of who these people are and its surprisingly accurate to their personalities. The chapter detailing Grunt and Kal'Reegar's points of view is very well done, contrast Grunt's Blood Knight tendencies with Kal's professional soldier personality. Even lesser known NPC characters are given a good deal of characterization, such as one Krogan tank-born that's one of Professor Okeer's reject pile and even Wilson, a minor bit player at the start of the game, is given a full chapter devoted to him that wonderfully broadens his character. All in all its a great read.
** Seconded, the author manages to breathe life into both the setting and the characters.
** A really great read, especially if you're tired of fics focusing only on the main characters. Recommended to all comers.
** Besides being a great alternative glance into the minds of the cast, it also does a good job of figuring out ''why'' certain things [[spoiler: like Lawson just so happening to find Oriana at that specific time]] would logically happen. Also does a great job of making Mordin a proper mad scientist.
** It's pretty much THE best fanfic i have ever read in my life. Every chapter is written in a slightly different way, which shows differences between [=POVs=]. Nearly all characters are much more interesting here than in a game, as author could deepen the relations between crew, what we sadly couldn't see in a game. Flashbacks are also wtirren superbly, especially the chapters about EDI, Zaeed, Shepard and Miranda. I can only wholeheartedly reccomend this fic.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7925479/1/In_Times_of_War In Times of War]]'' by [=MLGumm=]
* Recommended by: openseseme
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From plot summary-In times of war friends pop up from the oddest places. A human colony kid, barely fifteen and a turian C-Sec officer closing in on twice her age certainly count as an odd pair of friends, but war has a way of bringing us together, even as it tears us apart.
* ''Comments'': A tale of friendship told through minimalistic prose that creates a vivid picture of who each character is and how they interact. The shortness of the chapters can be hard to get used to at first, but this troper thinks the story works largely because of the simplicity. Currently a work in progress.
** Now complete. Be warned, while most of the story is funny and sweet it starts to get darker towards the end, which is heartbreaking.
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''Iron Sharpens Iron'' by snippax
* Recommended by: Kalaong
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShep=] is made more awesome than canon in the only way canon could provide; she was raised by Clan Urdnot as an honorary [[ProudWarriorRace Krogan]].
* ''Comments'': [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Shepard raised by Krogan.]] What else can be said?
** Seconded by [=FelicitySprings=]. This is an excellent fic, especially if you're frustrated by many of the constraints of the canon Shepard backgrounds. As an added bonus, there's a good deal of [=FemShep=]/Miranda, [=FemShep=]/Jack and [=FemShep=]/Ashley in this fic, and that type of content at this level of quality is a rare thing indeed.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5763678/1/Kingdom-of-Rust Kingdom of Rust]]'' by Mighty Crouton
* Recommended by: [=MacSauce=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': It takes an ocean of trust if you are going to survive long hours traveling between solar systems. Garrus and Shepard pass the time despite cultural and language barriers before the Omega-4 Relay Mission.
* ''Comments'': Kingdom of Rust explores an intimate friendship between a human and Turian. The first and second chapter are very well done, with both characters appropriating each other's body language. Speaking as someone who has traveled, this story is very realistic of two cultures clashing into one another. Foucault is an exceptional Renegade [=FShep=]. Crouton hints at an ambiguous disorder that may or may not be Asperger's, a bit of an {{iron woobie}} mixed with {{knight in sour armor}}. Probably one of the best Shepards I've ever read, and the fact her nickname is Foucault tells me Crouton has done his research on humanist philosophies.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6091474/1/KOKOMO KOKOMO]]'' by ghost.713
* Recommended by: Ghastdream, Tikigod784
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Even vermin have a story." This is about a Vorcha
* ''Comments'': Tragic and beautifully written, especially concerning its alien perspective.
** A great look into the "society" of a race that Creator/BioWare probably only intended as simple cannon fodder. If this were canon, a Vorcha squad mate could arguably have the most alien dialogue in the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9098391/1/Legacy-of-the-Shadow-Broker Legacy of the Shadow Broker]]'' by [=LuxDragon=]
* Recommended by: extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Synopsis'': "Information. It had always been the Shadow Broker's main trade and source of power. Deception, his weapon; anonymity, his shield. To bring down his empire and avenge a friend, Liara, Shepard, and their allies must take on all the forces that the Shadow Broker will bring to bear to preserve his secrets. And his life." A novelization of ''Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC pack.
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson
* ''Comments'': [=LuxDragon=] hasn't lost any talent for hooking readers by the gums and dragging them along for the wild ride, still includes bonus points for the M!Shepard/Miranda fans out there, and for including intelligent and natural interactions between the ''Normandy'' crew.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6432617/1/The_Long_Walk The Long Walk]]'' by Prisoner 24601
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Jacob Taylor deals with the death of Miranda Lawson, by speaking with Kelly Chambers and has a conversation-so to speak-with EDI and Joker.
* ''Comments'': Seeing as I love fan fic where Kelly Chambers isn't relegated to the disgusting and tired old jokes of being the ship's bicycle and is treated as a professional counselor, that alone makes this story worth reccing. Not only that, but so often we've seen how Shepard reacts to the deaths of various teammates... we rarely ever see it done from the POV of a squadmate. Prisoner tackles this with Jacob-another ill-treated character in fandom-with a maturity that makes both chapters very much worth reading.
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''Webcomic/MarauderShields'' by koobismo
* Recommended by: Mr.Underhill, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': A brilliant set of comics that started out silly but is quickly evolving into a viable alternate [=ME3=] ending in its own right. Koobismo takes the Indoctrination Theory and ''runs with it'', detailing what the rest of Shepard's squad (including the [=ME2=] cast who were [[DemotedToExtra Demoted To Extras]] in the canon game) is doing while s/he is out of commission. It will be very interesting to see how this one pans out.
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''Fanfic/MassEffect2AULanius'' by College Fool
* Recommended by: @/PSychotic, @/GentlemensDame883, The Anguished One
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': When the Shadow Broker brings the Commander back, Cerberus is behind the colony abductions for unclear reasons, and a fallen hero of the Alliance who can foil even Shepard is at the head of it, it's just the start of a different ''Mass Effect 2''... [=ME2=] AU
* ''Comments'': A complete reimagining of [=ME2=], and absolutely fantastic. The only problem is the occasional misspelling. It's similar to Renegade Reinterpretations (the author wrote both), in that it's less like reading a story and more like reading how ''Mass Effect'' could have been.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928095/1/Mass_Effect_3_After_the_Fall Mass Effect 3: After the Fall]]'' by [=FenrisMarine=]
* Recommended by: thatdude, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dea
* ''Pairing'': Paragon!Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis:'' A fanmade epilogue about what happen to the races stranded in the Sol system after the Destroy ending.
* ''Comments:'' Let's not beat around the bush here, the ending to ''Mass Effect 3'' was... [[GainaxEnding less then disirable]]. This fic however is not a FixFic but rather an attempt to at least salvage it. It gives us what the actual ending didn't: Closure, the aftermath of the war, and a [[BittersweetEnding somewhat happy ending]]. Its not perfect, but it's a lot better then what we got.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7987705/1/Mass_Effect_Circular Mass Effect: Circular]]'' by Gregg Landsman
* Recommended by: The Curator, @/USABobcat, @/UncloudedTJ, Vellaen
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis:'' From the man who brought us ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'' comes the epic continuation of the ''Mass Effect'' franchise. The ending of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was not the beginning of the end. It was not the end of the end. It was simply the end of the beginning.
* ''Pairing(s):'' None
* ''Tags:'' FixFic (sort of), MentalTimeTravel
* ''Warnings:'' YMMV strongly, as there is a bit of handwaving in the first chapter that some may find to be excessive. Additionally, if you are the 1% that liked the endings, Gregg has done away with them completely.
** Author's note: I actually ''do'' like the endings. -Gregg
* ''Comments:'' Imagine, if you will, Shepard being more badass then before. Then imagine that Gregg Landsman wrote about what happens given Shepard's newfound badassery. There is absolutely no way conceivable under the laws of the universe for this not to be awesome. And it is. It totally is. Also Javik meets a Hanar. HilarityEnsues.
** Also hosted on [[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/mass-effect-circular-thread-4-hanarjob.222818/ Spacebattles, with active member participation.]]
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''Fanfic/MassEffectEndOfDays'' By: Postmeat
* Recommended by: Omeganian
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated October 2018
* ''Synopsis'': Another "Different tech humanity" fanfic. In this one, humanity has no eezo at all. There are no relays near Earth. No Prothean tech. Humanity is forced to take its own path, compensating for inferior FTL speed with superior terraforming tech.
* ''Comments'': The author openly uses some concept from other universes, so, for example, while the First Contact with the Council goes smoothly enough, it's not humanity's true First Contact [[spoiler:That one was with the Blacklight Virus from ''{{VideoGame/Prototype}}'', which had to be taken out with the M.D. from ''Film/EndersGame'']]. A rare fic where Shepard is neither John nor Jane (he's Frank). The guy earns his War Hero background and N7 rank [[spoiler:[[RuleOfCool fighting off Batarians and Collectors alongside Wrex and Tali.]]]] Then he's sent to [[spoiler:find the Collectors... with Saren on his ship.]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9283111/1/Mass-Effect-The-Hopeless-War Mass Effect: The Hopeless War]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4414294/ProfFartBurger ProfFartBurger]]
* Recommended by: Extinctnlvlevnt
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis:'' ''"In the 21st century, the Batarian Hegemony discovers a beautifully violent species known as 'Humans'. After deciding to enslave the entire race, and turn them into their own personal slave warriors, the so-called Masters of War must go against the Makers of Slaves. But is it truly possible to combat an alien threat, when your own species can barely even leave its only home?"'' An AU interpretation of the First Contact War.
* ''Comments:'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Humanity is fighting a war it cannot win against the combined might of the galaxy, following the unilateral intervention of the Council. Despite herculean triumphs of anthropocentric badass-ery over the foul xenos in the early days of the war; the story ultimately boils down to individual survival at all costs in the face of an all-conquering alien juggernaut.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12115832/1/Mass-Effect-The-Iron-Heart-of-Man Mass Effect The Iron Heart of Man]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7484374/Apollonir Apollonir]]
* Recommended by Coalen1942
* ''Status'': On-going
* ''Synopsis'': [AU] The Illusive Man said that salvation comes with a cost. When corruption seeps into the galaxy, when centuries of status quo suddenly breaks in a mere decade, when blood's spilled among the stars like never before, when extinction looms over civilization, when morality is merely a shade... salvation can only come with sacrifice. [AU First Contact War & Reaper War; GRAPHIC]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5898628/1/Mass_Effect_Iron_Rebirth Mass Effect: Iron Rebirth]]'' by Mashadar
* Recommended by: Alamo, Joysweeper
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard's revival is necessarily much earlier than canon, and the only way it can be done is by putting his functional brain into a YMIR mech chassis, with all the baggage that implies.
* ''Comments'': You know, when I recommend a fic, the highest praise I can give it is that even though I may not be a fan of what it's based of of, I still enjoyed the fic. This is one of those. I have never played either of the ''Mass Effect'' games and have only a passing knowledge of the universe, but still found this to be a great read. The writing is competent, the dialogue well written, the key ploy point intriguing, and the storyline well done. I highly recommend this.
** Hnn. I felt like this got off to a very promising start -- I'm a sucker for BrainInAJar -- but as the chapters went on the grammatical mistakes, overuse of names in conversations, and run-on sentences started to get to me. Besides, the recurring talk of this permanence started annoying me -- what, is it so hard to put fingers on these mechs? I'll look for further chapters, but I have a sense of wasted potential here.
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''Fanfic/MassEffectInterregnum'' by The Naked Pen
* Recommended by: Altercation, Spark Moon, randomfanboy, Javier, Joysweeper, sushemi, valbinooo, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Focuses on Garrus's days between [=ME1=] and 2, initially set about four months after Shepard's death at the hands of the Collectors, detailing how he met and put together his team to fight crime. Those seeking fluff need not apply.
* ''Comments'': Without a doubt, one of the best fanfictions detailing Garrus's months in Omega. The characterization of Garrus is perfect, to use a better word, genuine. There's really no question on how much The Naked Pen captured Garrus's personality, his dark wit and constant second-guessing and wraps it all up in a central plot point concerning an incredibly powerful ship. Highly recommended.
** Word. As someone who's totally burnt out on the romantic fluff stuff as far as anything involving Garrus goes, this story is a much needed breath of fresh air. In this troper's opinion, it's ''criminal'' this story hasn't gotten more attention.
** The tragedy element of the story is heartwrenching as well. You know how it'll all end, so seeing Sidonis and Garrus becoming TrueCompanions (with some very effective writing) will hurt you.
** I agree with all of the above. The Naked Pen obviously really loves and understands Garrus and the ''Mass Effect'' universe, and its good to see a good writer writing something more like the games in tone than most of the rest of the fandom does. The only downside is that the updating is quite slow, but it's well worth the waits.
** Possibly my favorite ME fanfic. Extraordinarily well written action, brilliant world building, wonderful sense of voice from Garrus, excellently conceived characters/personalities-- all together, a joy to read. Try it out, and I don't believe that anybody will find it a waste of time.
** Unlike one of the above tropers, I like fluff. But I also liked this. Garrus seems very in-character, and even if the cyborg volus was eyebrow-raising, the constant snark back and forth is fun.
** Incredibly good, almost suspiciously so. I'm not entirely sure that The Naked Pen isn't really one of the writers from Bioware who types this out in their spare time.
** A minor but consistently-annoying quibble is that the author refers to every gun as firing "[[EnergyWeapon energy bolts]]" instead of [[KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter bullets]], when the series makes it very clear they're using kinetic weaponry and not energy. It's an otherwise glaring fault in a fic as well-researched as this one.
*** The author refers to them as bullets pretty much exclusively after chapter 13 and, even then, "[[EnergyWeapon energy bolt]]" isn't an unfair description of small chips of metal going at significant fractions of the speed of light.
** Quite possibly [[@/{{Alynnidalar}} my]] favorite ME fic as well. Garrus is extremely well-characterized, and the large cast of characters (there's eleven other people on his squad, after all!) is handled surprisingly well. It's partly serious, especially considering that we all already know how it's going to end (made all the more poignant by the fact that [[spoiler:Sidonis is actually a pretty cool guy in the fic, having an almost younger brother relationship with his sort-of mentor Garrus]]), but balances that with absolutely hilarious sequences. There's a cyborg volus. There's snide but not overly obnoxious digs at some of the stranger aspects of the games, such as the seemingly bulletproof couches in Garrus' base and Shepard's habit of constantly visiting nightclubs. There's a ship called the SSV Starf***er. Cannot possibly recommend enough if you like Garrus at ''all.''
*** The author has also written one very well-done spin-off called ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7205745/1/Omega_Noire Omega Noire]]''. In it, Garrus tries to investigate a murder, struggling against the rampant corruption and apathy of Omega to find the facts. It's a good classic "noir" style mystery with influences and homages from many classic mysteries, yet manages to fit in well with the image of Omega the author created in Interregnum. And it's just plain cool to see Garrus putting his detective skills to work.
** This is possibly the only ''Mass Effect'' Fanfic I've read that is a contender for the prestige of being better than canon. Seriously, if your browsing through this page looking for something other than Slash Fic or yet another "retelling" of [=ME1=] or [=ME2=], click the link already.
** Agreed; the actual ''Mass Effect'' novels pale in comparison in both prose and plot quality. However, the opening two sections ("Alpha and Omega" and "Divine Intervention") are somewhat directionless and generally less good than the later arcs (though still pretty damn good compared to both the average fic and the official novels). Readers turned off by them might want to start with 'Sanctuary' to see how good the fic can be.
*** Contrary to the above troper, I actually enjoyed the first two arcs far more than the ones succeeding it. However, the later arcs, though significantly shorter, are still exceedingly well done, even if they aren't quite as engaging. That being said this is possibly the best written fic I've ever read, so there's that too.
** Basically this should be required reading for the fandom
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9892740/1/Mass-Effect-A-Measure-of-Salvation Mass Effect: A Measure of Salvation]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4786538/Mal-Cobb Mal Cobb]]
* Recommended by: Looks Awesome
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated May 2020
* ''Synopsis'': With the Reapers closing in, Miranda Lawson understands well the magnitude of the threat. But as she breaks free from Cerberus and navigates the perils of a fracturing Systems Alliance, can she reconcile the operative she once was with the woman who's fallen for Commander Shepard? An AU of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''.
* ''Pairings'': M!Shep/Miranda
* ''Comments'': What makes this fic stand out to me is the rewritten narrative (the internal contradictions and inconsistencies of that game still rankle me to this day) coupled with new, writer-created material that complements and enhances that canon content that is preserved or otherwise not excised. The pacing is fluid, the narrative is immersive, the setting is dynamic, and the dialogue is engaging. I still go back and read my favorite passages time and time again. 100% recommendation.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8643329/1/Mass-Effect-Mistakes-Worth-Sharing Mass Effect: Mistakes Worth Sharing]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/WildGoose
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Just four ups and downs a very special Turian feels are worth sharing. General Garrus Vakarian gives the commencement address to the first post-Reaper War graduating class at the Cipritine Hill Services Academy.
* ''Comments'': ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A commencement address is a tremendously boring thing, but the author of Exoria manages to perfectly capture Garrus' voice and make this address something from the heart, at the same time showing the reader how Garrus has grown throughout the three ''Mass Effect'' games.
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''Fanfic/MassEffectMurphysLaw'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/~TacoWrath TacoWrath]]
* Recommended by: Joint Reflex 39
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Tags'': Graphic violence and explicit language.
* ''Synopsis'': Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Ain't that the cold, hard truth. When everything inevitably does go wrong, strong men and women get to work and refuse to accept any other outcome, no matter how bleak. As those men and women, we'll be running into a lot more questions than answers, but then again... scientific minds thrive off discovery and problem-solving.
* ''Comments'': An interesting fic that takes a few renaissance men from our time and throws them into the future. In a more interesting take on the self-insert, in this universe the ''Mass Effect'' games do not exist, leaving it as the actual future the characters gradually mold with their innovations. Great characterization (OC and canon) carries this fic, along with great, detail-focused science and sci-fi references that seemingly aim to push SlidingScale/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness from a 4 to a 4.5. In the end, the story boils down to the importance of family and friendship, without getting preachy or forgetting what makes ''Mass Effect'' entertaining.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8925184/1/Mass-Effect-Reloaded Mass Effect Reloaded]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4388544/thebluninja theblueninja]], or Troper/BlueNinja0
* Recommended by: lurkbbs, @/UncloudedTJ
* ''Status'': Dormant
* ''Synopsis'': Facing the Catalyst, Adept Jane Shepard takes the Kirk path, and cheats. Thrown back in time to the very start of her Spectre career, can she actually save the entire galaxy from the Reapers, or will everything end up the same despite her knowledge of the future? Shakarian shipping.
** ''New Synopsis'': Is a second chance enough? Instead of the Catalyst's choices, Shepard lucks into a cosmic loophole. Thrown back to the very start of her Spectre career, she has to try and save the galaxy again from the Reapers... but does she really know what's coming?
* ''Comments'': One of the rarest PeggySue fanfics where main character tries to changes everything from the very beginning, without some "want to know the future so will do things exactly as before" crap. Excellent language, on par and surpassing many professional writers. Fast-paced when needed, relaxing when needed, funny when needed, serious when needed. Good characterization, both canon and OC.
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''FanFic/MassVexations'' by Tropers/HerrWozzeck
* Recommended by: SithkingZero, Catheri
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "Vexations. Music of Erik Satie. Somehow, it transported me to the ''Mass Effect'' universe. Might as well make the best of it, and by that I mean help the crew stop Saren and the Geth, all without telling my real origins. Self-insert. Kaidan/Shepard."
* ''Comments'': '''''THE''''' ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert fanfiction on the internet. As far as I'm concerned, the ''only'' one. While self-inserts are dime-a-dozen, this story is in defiance of Sturgeon's law. Well-written, the main character is not a SelfInsert, the interactions feel totally natural, and all-around greatness. Now, in interest of fairness, it does have its negative points. The main character, Art, tends to go off on rants about things that the author feels strongly about. The first story is merely okay, while the sequel is far improved in terms of storytelling capability. However, those aren't enough to take away how good this story is. Has three sequels: Mass Vexations 2 (covering the second ''Mass Effect'' game), and Mass Vexations 3.
** I thought this story was not enjoyable at all. The protagonist is highly unlikable (not to mention borderlines on a [[GodModeSue God Mode Stu]] status at times, or too close to it for my liking), Art's [[WriterOnBoard random rants]] take me more out of the story than the rest of it already does, the story stretches even the most sturdy suspensions of disbelief-and not in a good way- and it's a chore to read even in some of the more funnier moments (which there are few). Unless it's somehow either a cleverly disguised {{Deconstruction}} and/or a StealthParody of self-insert fics in general, then pass.
*** The above opinion represents this troper's opinion of Mass Vexations 3, but will admit that the first one is by far the best. the dialog feels somewhat flat, the characters repeat a few phrases not suited to them, and there are some choices made in [=MV3=] that are just flat-out annoying (No examples will be given, to prevent spoilers).
*** I second this fic. I enjoyed Art's rants and didn't find any of the [[GodModeSue God Mode Stu]] issues that the above poster did as it seemed more of a case of EarnYourHappyEnding. In my opinion, it is definitely worth reading as I finished the first one awhile ago and am now spending my current break catching up on the sequels, which are turning out to be even better so far. A definite recommend and a must-read for anyone who loves ME fanfiction or needs to have their faith restored when it comes to {{Self Insert}}s.
*** I agree with the above, this fic is just not enjoyable. It only ranks above the 90% for having proper spelling and grammar, which is rare enough in fanfics. The self-insert is unlikable (he's very egocentric and randomly gets angry at people ''for acting exactly as they do in canon''). The random rants don't help, nor does the fact that it follows canon like a traintrack. No attempts whatsoever to alter the plot in the slightest, either through the character's actions or the writer's creativity. If I wanted to read a novelization of ''Mass Effect'', I'm sure I can find one without an annoying self-insert getting in the way.
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''FanFic/MassesToMasses'' by Tropers/{{Inf3ctionz}}
* Recommended by: S3ek, [=GoneRampant=], [=XxChronOblivionxX=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "After a freak event sends me into the ME universe 2 years before [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 [=ME1=]]], I find myself working at C-Sec. As if dealing with serial killers, drug smugglers, and Garrus Vakarian wasn't enough, I need to work out why I was sent here, and I need to survive."
* ''Comments'': A ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert that feature an UnlikelyHero: Ian [[spoiler: Shaw]], a British law student with very little in the way of training for detective work or a military operation. [[TookALevelInBadass He learns]]. Better yet, this story starts two years '''before''' the start of ''Mass Effect''. The first of the series begins before ''Mass Effect 1'' where Ian is Garrus' partner as a detective, the second begins when Garrus and Ian meet Shepard on the Citadel and features the events of the game, and the third installment begins with the destruction of the Normandy and features Ian's escapades as Deadpool, part of Archangel's crew. It's one of the most popular ''Mass Effect'' self-inserts, rivaling the fame of ''Fanfic/MassVexations''.
** One of my favourite ''Mass Effect'' fanfics, period. Ian's FirstPersonSmartass narration makes the fanfic hilarious, action packed and essential to any fanfic reader. Also has a spinoff, Masses To Masses Zero, which focuses on Garrus a day before Ian shows up while Garrus is on a case.
--> '''Ian Shaw (has) done gotten himself more famous than Arnold Schwarzenegger's pecs.''' -- [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2394869/Sarge1995 Sarge1995]]
--> '''Masses To Masses is the fanfiction equivalent of the Avengers movie-brilliant, action packed and hilarious throughout with a deep story and awesome plot-twists.''' -[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2604489/Gone_Rampant Gone Rampant]]
** And to prove that this has replaced ''Mass Vexations'' as '''the''' essential ''Franchise/MassEffect'' SelfInsert, ''Masses To Masses'' as a series has more reviews on Fanfiction.Net then ''Mass Vexations'', and more reviews per story.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4813253/1/Mind_Over_Matter Mind Over Matter]]'' by eyyowlf
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''The adventures of the first human Spectre, the Butcher of Torfan, the son of Mindoir. Mild au for original subplots and sidequests. Ruthless Vanguard with concentration on biotics, aliens, milSF, and secondary crew.'' Pretty much an AU take on the first ''Mass Effect'' game, featuring a male Shepard.
* ''Comments'': Man. There are no words to accurately describe this fic. It's one of those ones that has so much stuff going on in it, it *has* to be read to be fully appreciated. The starring Shepard is such a jerkass, but a likable one to this troper. Seriously, find the time to sit down and read this if you can.
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''[[Fanfic/TheMiracleAtPalaven The Miracle at Palaven]]'' by Sudentor
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' The Miracle At Palaven is the biggest OffscreenMomentOfAwesome in the game. This story opts to flesh it out, giving a theoretical account as written from a historical in-universe document. Do you believe in miracles?
** As for the kind of playthrough that was done, the Geth and the Quarians are both alive, even in the aftermath of the events that would take place in the game.
* ''Tags'': Violence and language.
* ''Comments:'' Definitely worth a read. It gives a great take on the events and highlights the kinds of things that would have to be done and what could go wrong, and the kinds of badass it takes to overcome that sort of adversity. My favorite chapter so far was the one on the ''Bosh'tet Express''.
** The author Kei is also known as [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/48629/Sudentor Sudentor]] on FF.net, whose equally fantastic ''Order Upon Chaos'' and ''Mistakes Worth Sharing'' are recced above.
** The [[JustForFun/XMeetsY best way to describe this story]] is, simply put, ''Franchise/MassEffect'' meets ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', written in the style of ''Series/BandOfBrothers''.
*** The author also takes what was a throwaway line in [=ME3=]'s emails, [[spoiler: Kal'Reegar dying while defending repairs to a comm antenna]], and turns it into a ManlyTears-inducing heroic LastStand. And it is '''awesome'''.
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''Fanfic/MockEffect'' by Mister Buch
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}, @/{{Firebert}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Jane Shepard was being promoted as a 'Sub-Spectre' much to her humiliation as her psychotic brother John Shepard was promoted as a Spectre. She has to save the galaxy from not only the incompetent, unoriginal villains like Saren and Unicron... sorry Sovereign, but also from her crazy ass brother from trashing up the galaxy with his try hard [[JerkAss Renegade]] attitude.
* ''Comments'': A nice parody that digs deep into plot-holes, cliche, spotlighting the flaws like how the renegade options are blatantly childish and bad textured load ups. This parody was so popular there's a 10 page dedication to this fan fiction on the [[http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=633141&forum=123&sp=0 official Mass Effect]] forums before the moderators shut it down due to bad server technology. Sadly it's in script format so the webmasters of the [[Website/FanFictionDotNet ff.net]] had to take it down much to the fans annoyance. Fortunately one of the fans [[BigDamnHeroes jumped in to save the day]] by creating a another ''Mass Effect'' fan fiction site for Mr. Buch to host it. You can still check it out by clicking on the above link.
** Not a good idea to read it if you like... any of the characters, really. The author seems to hate them all.
*** Except for [[MrFanservice Kaidan]].
*** No, Kaidan gets it too. He's a complete idiot, like every other character.
** I personally found the story to be little more than an annoying RevengeFic.
** This editor disagrees, it's a humorous story, you don't have to hate the game to find it funny.
** The sheer number of details mocked suggest that the author played the game in depth, at least a few times. It's unlikely that anyone would bother to do so with a game he/she doesn't like. Probably just a very ''serious'' case of AccentuateTheNegative.
** Some people may find the overly negative stuff funny, but this was just one of the more flat-out insufferable "humor" fics to read IMO.
** [[@/{{Alynnidalar}} I'll]] throw in my two cents on this one. This fic lampshades a lot of (apparent) plot holes and characterization issues from the first game. If you can maintain your sense of humor throughout the whole thing, parts are absolutely hilarious, but it does get vicious at times, and is likely to make you rageface at least once or twice when there's a perfectly sensible in-story explanation for a supposed plot hole that is mocked. If you find it hard to read parodies or take rather vicious criticism of the game in stride, I'd advise you to avoid it. If, on the other hand, you're OK with that, read it and laugh your head off. In my opinion, I'm fairly certain it was written by someone who enjoyed the game (they know far too much about the inner workings of the game to actually hate it), so just keep that in mind. And it legitimately is hilarious most of the time--in particular, do ''not'' read the retelling of the moon mission while sitting in math class, as you ''will'' need to go running for the door lest you burst out laughing in the middle of a serious discussion on the Euclidean Algorithm or something. FWIW, I still think the fic is worth reading, just understand that ''every'' character is mocked heavily, with poor Tali likely getting the worst of it. There are ''no'' exceptions--everyone from the Council to Steve, the blond guy who salutes you every time you walk down the stairs in the Normandy, is mocked mercilessly.
** Bloody hilarious, and I say that as someone who loves the game. It is to [=ME1=] what "Yet Another KOTOR Parody" is to, well, KOTOR. Reading it made me realize just how much [=BioWare=]'s writing and production values improved between [=ME1=] and the other two games. Sadly, I didn't find the "unofficial" sequels to live up to the original.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4871680/1/New_Friends New Friends]]'' by Mister Buch
* Recommended by: @/{{Tillian}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard is a 16 year-old penniless petty thief living on Earth. She starts running with the 10th Street Reds and finds a new life for herself. When the gang plans to assassinate a Turian veteran she has to find the great strength she has been ignoring.
* ''Comments'': A detailed backstory for the Earthborn profile. It explores the dark underbelly in the streets of Earth, alien racism and prejudice with biotics. Brilliant attention to the settings of the world, a steady pacing and a interesting POV of a young Shepard who is a child on the verge of becoming an adult. A must read if you like ''Mass Effect'' fics.
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''[[http://social.bioware.com/721659/blog/4962/ Noir Tali Is Noir]]'' by [[http://social.bioware.com/721659 NuclearBuddha]] and [[http://social.bioware.com/318855 RiptideX1090]]
* Recommended by: Cinereous, pcy623
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': ''The rain came down like bullets, each leaving a raw mark on my suit. I couldn't feel them, not with the suit. Then again, I'd stopped feeling things like that a long time ago. Two years ago. The ''Normandy.''''
* ''Comments'': As the title says, a story written in FilmNoir style, a look at Tali and her life during the two years after the destruction of the ''SSV Normandy.'' A DarkerAndEdgier story that paints an incredibly depressing look at what it is to be a quarian in a [[CrapsackWorld galactic society that despises them]]. This is a Tali who is full of [[TranquilFury quiet anger]], hardened, bitter, and numb to the world, an empty shell whose one source of happiness was snuffed out two years ago. The two authors have created a story that fits amazingly well within canon events and truly takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. (Note: To read this story and view the authors' profiles/blogs, you must sign up for an account on the [[http://social.bioware.com Bioware social boards]]).
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928020/1/Mass_Effect_Order_Upon_Chaos Order Upon Chaos]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: owlbot, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': The publication of the Precipice Archives Report for the Third Citadel detailing the events since five billion years ago, how the attempt to save life led to its cyclic destruction, and how this affected the galaxy five billion years later.
* ''Comments'': Written in the form of salvaged transcripts, documents, and messages recovered almost a millennium after the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', ''Order Upon Chaos'' chronicles the origin of the Reapers, explaining how they went from [[DisasterDemocracy a democratic body]] [[MessianicArchetype trying to save one civilization after another]], to [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremists]], to {{eldritch abomination}}s. The story is difficult to pick up at first, for the transcripts can be dense, confusing, and not immediately obvious, but it rolls elegantly along once it truly picks up speed, and gracefully shows how the initial, desperate attempt to ensure life goes on in the galaxy slowly transforms into the horrifying cycles of extinction we associate with the Reapers today, as well as the beginnings of the enigmatic characters [[spoiler:Harbinger and the Catalyst]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6096040/1/Progress_Reimagined Progress Reimagined]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2419706/urapente urapente]]
* Recommended by: Cinereous
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Some vague hints of (Male) Shepard/Tali, onesided Prazza/Tali, but this is not a shipping fic.
* ''Synopsis'': A greatly expanded novelization of the initial meeting on Freedom's Progress between Shepard, his Cerberus squadmates, and Tali's team.
* ''Comments'': The author turns what was a quick thirty minute intro mission into a multi-chapter story that showcases Tali and how she has matured and become a cynical, darker character after the events of [=ME1=]. Make no mistake: though the viewpoint character is Shepard, Tali is definitely the protagonist of this story. The initial meeting between the two is handled much more realistically than in-game, and Prazza's anger at and eventual betrayal of her are explored in serious depth, ending in a climax that chilled this troper to the bone. If you're tired of a Tali that is written as [[{{Flanderization}} nothing but]] a blushing moeblob whose entire world revolves around Shepard, this is a welcome change of pace. Coincidentally, the general atmosphere and feel of the story is shockingly similar to ''[[http://social.bioware.com/721659/blog/4962/ Noir Tali Is Noir]]'' (which this troper also recommended) despite being written independently of each other. The author himself has high praise for that story on his [[http://urapente.deviantart.com/journal/39502402 Deviantart journal]].
** (There is also an alternate version of Chapter 2 told from Tali's point of view [[http://urapente.deviantart.com/art/Reflections-Of-Progress-Tali-162407780 here]] on the author's Deviantart gallery.)
** This Troper personally found that Shepard was thinking a wee bit too much about Tali considering he was in the middle of a combat situation. Also, the whole eye-implants deal felt like a red herring.
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''Fanfic/ProjectDelta'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/8887404/5th-Legion 5th Legion]]
* Recommended by: Omeganian
* Status: Complete, sequel in progress.
* ''Synopsis'': What do you get if, like the Crucible, throughout the eons, the races were working on a set of combat implants? What do you get if these implants, with all the pain of these races, were given to a human infant girl? What do you get when this girl is given the background of Subject Zero? You get... Jane.
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''Fanfic/ProjectGethinator'' by [=500MetricTonnesofPalladium=]
* Recommended by: @/TwoGunAngel
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing(s):'' Tali/Shepard again
* ''Synopsis:'' The sequel to ''Inglorious Bosh'tets''. Tali is back on the Normandy with Shepard, Garrus and a new crew, but it seems that the universe hasn't quite finished with her yet, as more craziness follows their every step.
* ''Comments:'' Another well-written fic from the mind behind ''Inglorious Bosh'tets''. This one is more of a mystery plot than the utter craziness of ''Bosh'tets'', but still with a good deal of fun.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Q-Z]]
''[[https://fextralife.com/forums/t358113/tldr-the-really-really-really-long-version-of-how-id-cast-cerberus-as-frenemies-in-me3/?sid=42e2f1ea43db3b019b745ca14102aab9 The Really, Really, Really long version of How I'd cast Cerberus...]]'' by Dean_the_Young
* Recommended by: arcanephoenix
* ''Synopsis'': A reinterpretation and sort-of rewriting of Cerberus's role in ''Mass Effect 3'' and it's effects on the plot as a whole.
* ''Comments'': It may take an hour to read, but it is fully worth your time. The man has essentially rewritten ''Mass Effect 3'' while maintaining internal consistency, no mean feat. It is calm, precise and quite beautifully put together. While I liked how the trilogy ended in canon, I would have seriously loved this.
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''Fanfic/RenegadeReinterpretations'' by College Fool
* Recommended by: [=AngelOfBlood=], Grant[[note]] How ''Mass Effect'' ''should'' have been[[/note]], Vellaen, Macsauce, @/GentlemensDame883, The Anguished One
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': This fic is one massive AU Fic, in which Relay 314 was discovered by the Batarians, not the Turians, and humanity, and the galaxy are radically changed, forever. To quote the first chapter, "This is the darkest century of human history. This is the catalyst that changed and defined the Human race as it emerged upon the galactic stage. This is not a happy story, or a story of glory, or even a particularly pleasant one. It is, at heart, a Renegade's story, of one race rising up defying a galaxy's expectations."
* '' Comments'': Words cannot describe the fic. It just has to be read to be believed. It's dark, and will toss your already conceived viewpoints out the window. It's obvious that the author did a LOT of thinking about consequences, and how they will affect the universe in general.
** YMMV -- Be warned this isn't a traditional fic but more like a history book of an alternate universe, with no real dialogue or characterizations.
** It also has a very interesting re-imagining of the SuicideMission. Here, it's [[DoWellButNotPerfect not possible to]] [[NoOneLeftBehind save everyone]] like it is in the real [=ME2=], but each character has more opportunities to show off their badassery.
** A curious thought experiment, with realistic reactions and details that makes humanity truly terrifying in a galaxy that is increasingly insane and brutal. Imagine a bit of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', ''Franchise/MassEffect'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', and give all of those an underdog mentality and you'd gave something not unlike this story.
** The problem with the story is that it reads as an outline, complete with "If the player chooses so and so option then so and so happens". The ideas are interesting, but YMMV, since it isn't really a story per say. It would be interesting if people wrote stories in that universe though.
** Honestly the fic is brilliant during the 40+ chapters of backstory which are as said earlier a very well written historical document. Once the events of the games start suddenly the fic starts looking like a game design document and is much less fun to read.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8011857/1/Mass-Effect-3-Same Same]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/~sudentor Sudentor]]
* Recommended by: Murus
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Ashley Williams rejoins the Normandy crew and runs into the last person she wants to see, the embodiment of frustration, guilt, and regret, of what she could've been and should've been.
* ''Comments'': Takes place immediately following Ashley's return to the Normandy in [=ME3=]. This one-shot describes her awkward meeting with Garrus, and does so excellently -- capturing the character of both Ashley and Garrus, and with thought to how their history would shape this reunion.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/787740 A Sea of Stars]]'' series by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/IndefeasibleZed/pseuds/IndefeasibleZed IndefeasibleZed]] & [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/SomethingProfound/pseuds/SomethingProfound SomethingProfound]]
* Reccomended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status:'' Ongoing (11 works so far, 7 complete, 4 in progress)
* ''Synopsis:'' Follows the career and life of Spacer background Emilia Shepard, beginning as a young lieutenant during the Skyllian Blitz, through all three games.
* ''Comments:'' This is an extremely well-written series which focuses heavily on realism, showing the inner military workings of the Alliance in general and Shepard's command in particular, along with being a seldom-seen example of Shepard as a woman of color. While not overly smutty, it does go into a fair amount of detail with Shepard and Ashley's relationship, not shying away from the difficulties and worries each has about the potential fallout if they're discovered. It also shows an intriguing look behind the scenes at how Hackett and the Alliance brass intended to handle the repercussions of Shepard's actions at Bahak.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6128675/1/Second Second]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Salty Wound, Ghastdream, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': When Shepard is off the ship, the squad begins to chafe under Miranda's command. They look to Garrus to replace her as XO, but Garrus isn't sure mutiny is the answer.
* ''Comments:'' Going in to this, you might be expecting a a Miranda bashing buffet. Unless you really are looking for that, you will be pleasantly surprised. This fic provides two of the best Miranda and Garrus characterizations I've ever read. Miranda starts out very jerky, but she begins to [[DefrostingIceQueen defrost]] without becoming a doormat for the others to wipe their feet on. Garrus shows himself to be a very capable [[spoiler: mediator]], without losing his tactical demeanor or his wry sense of humor. Also an [[spoiler: entirely Shepard-less fic]], which, in my opinion, adds to its strength. [[spoiler: His influence]] still shows however, especially in the mini [[spoiler: TwistEnding]].
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/121097 The Selfish Gene]]'' by Buggirl
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Miranda is dealing with some personal issues. Will she open up to someone about her problems, or will she remain the 'Ice Queen' that everybody has labelled her?''
* ''Comments'': Centered around a particular ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' dossier spoiler that divided Miranda's fanbase, this story tackles an extremely sensitive issue with aplomb and the utmost care. This is especially notable, as it [[RealitySubtext draws from the author's own experiences]] on the issue while still keeping the characters -especially Miranda- in character. By far one of the more poignant and thoughtful fan fics I've read in the fandom, in my opinion.
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''Fanfic/OfSheepAndBattleChicken'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3873840/LogicalPremise LogicalPremise]]
* Recommended by: [=KhaosKyuubi=], [=RapidR3dr=], [=Katkiller-V=]
* Status: Completed -- with two sequels, one already completed, the other starting on [=ME2=].
* Pairing: While romance is not the primary focus of the fic there is quite a bit of emphasis placed on a few couples Mostly [=FemShep=]/Liara, but there is some Joker/Tali in the background if you squint ''REALLY'' hard. Later works firm up the Joker/Tali, Chakwas/OC, and Garrus/OC.
* ''Synopsis'': My AU retelling of [=ME1=], with a darker feel. The evolution of a dangerous renegade with zero personality and all the empathy of a car tire to a real person, and changing the story of [=ME1=] so that it's better shaped to fit a darker, more Paragade universe and a more realistic view of Cerberus and the Citadel Council. Pairing is [=FShep=]/Liara. M rating for graphic violence.
* ''Comments'': A masterfully-written and dark novelization of the first game with several sequels planned. This is not just a fic but an entire AU thought up and thoroughly fleshed-out by the Author. Easily one of the best fanfictions out there and definetly on par with Melaradark's Dark Energy series, and in the humble opinion of this Troper, surpasses it in terms of quality. If you have finished Melaradark's fics and are looking for some more delicious ''Mass Effect'' fanfiction, along with a rich AU to sink your teeth into, this will more than satisfy your appetite. Manages an excellent balance between Action, tender, fluffy moments, great character interactions, and pretty good humor. Highly recommended.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7160279/1/The-Siege-of-Shanxi The Siege of Shanxi]]'': by Made Nightwing
* Recommended by: survivor6861
* Status: Completed
* ''Synopsis'':In 2157, the Turian Hierarchy shocked the Council species by commencing a sudden and illegal war against a new race, known only as 'Humans'. This is the story of Shanxi's third Garrison Division, and their fight for survival, and freedom.
* ''Comments'': A well written, in-progress piece, about the Relay 314 incident and how humanity met its first live alien species. Focuses on various viewpoints that include human and Turian soldiers and leaders. Written before the release of the ''Mass Effect: Evolution'', it expands on the Siege of Shanxi and how humanity and Turians fought each others in the skies and mud of Shanxi. Also expands on viewpoints of notorious characters from ''Mass Effect''[='=]s background that include General Williams, Jon Grissom, Saren Arterius and The Illusive Man himself.
** Definately worth a look -- given the author's love of tropes and many direct references to Website/TVTropes, I'm shocked it has no page of its own. The story is not for everyone -- still a few lingering grammatical errors and missing words -- but given its size, that's expected. What gets me is the sheer scope of what the author is going after, which includes side fics to accompany the main work that expand on cultures, Cerberus, economics, even biotics.
** In many ways, this is a far superior exploration of pivotal moment in human history, than what the offical canon tells us. Whilst being authentic to the lore and mythos of the ''Mass Effect'' universe, this story explores the scale and scope of full blown battle, and is able to zoom in on the intimate aspects of this event. This story explores Shanxi from both sides of the battle, detailing their travails, their tactics, their strategies and their conundrumns.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1004203?view_full_work=true The Sound of Light]]'' by nightside
* Recommended by: @/DragonByte
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': The Reaper War has ended after Shepard chose Synthesis. Varinnia, a Turian woman stranded on Chesed, can either stay stranded, or board a Reaper that wants her company.
* ''Pairings'': Eventual Turian Female OC/Reaper
* ''Comments'': My favorite synthesis ending story. It uses themes like religious fanaticism and discrimination in a very believable way, and the stream-of-consciousness mode of narration caters splendidly to the way the protagonist and her Reaper companion communicate. (Sequel to the one-shot, [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1003820 Stars]])
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''Spectre'' by Caine/Precept
* Recommended by: @/GentlemensDame883
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Synopsis'': John Shepard is a man haunted by ghosts. Can he rise above his past to save the galaxy?
* ''Pairing(s)'': Seems to be moving towards Shep/Tali.
* ''Comments'': A novelisation of the first game that the author really makes his own. While the plot doesn't diverge too greatly, it's in the character work that this shines, especially how the author depicts Shepard as struggling with his past rather than as canon's much less ambiguous hero.
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''Fanfic/SpiritOfRedemption'' by Myetel
* Recommended by: Esseresse, Vorkosigan, Tropers/SuperTulle
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "The Spectres fight against threats to both the galaxy and their families on Mindoir. Shepard/Garrus, multiple OCs, largely expanded universe."
* ''Comments'':
** This Fic Has replaced canon for me, It has over 3.09 MILLION words and it's not over yet!
*** ps any help with the Website/TVTropes page for this Fic is welcome and needed.
** This is a monster of a fiction. Clocking in at 3.2 millions words (or thereabouts), it covers from just past the Reaper War to about ten years after. As the previous troper mentioned, this has replaced canon for me. The sheer scope of it combined with the technical skills (no misspellings, two to three new languages that at least seem internally consistent, and a very well thought out plot with tons of OCs) make this my new favorite fic on the Citadel.
** Tropers/SuperTulle: I have some minor nitpicks with this, such as how the author mixes up the cipher and the conduit, but the author herself admits that it's not perfect. And I love it anyway. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss the time it takes to read 3,404,794 words goodbye, and I promise you it will be worth it. It's an amazing AU story. Do note however, that Myetel started writing it long before [=ME3=] came out, and didn't play it until after chapter 141 had already been written.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7630419/1/Storytellers Storytellers]]'' by [=IphigeniaWrites =]
* Recommended by: Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': After the war against the Reapers, Shepard's story is a legend. After the war, many people across different species tell her story... in their own ways.
* ''Comments'': It's an original idea and decently executed. It's interesting to see how all the aliens tell (and outright ''[[UnreliableNarrator change]]'') the story to emphasize the parts their species cares the most about: the Krogan praise Shepard's worth in battle, the volus praise her skills in commerce...
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9279403/1/Stuck-in-a-World-of-Fiction Stuck in a World of Fiction]]'' and the sequel ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10627352/1/Surviving-a-World-of-Fiction Surviving a World of Fiction]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3199292/TREBOR117 Trebor117]]
* Recommended by: heroman45, Toothless is best, general-joseph-dickson, Ford B, [=WAEGirl=]
* Status: First Story is complete, sequel is dormant (last updated May 2018).
* ''Synopsis'': Self insert. A man wakes up on Eden Prime with heavy amnesia, biotics, unexplained training. Taking the alias Jason Bourne after another amnesiac killer, he joins Shepard in her quest to stop the reapers. Along the way he'll make enemies, make friends, find romance, and have to make a lot of choices. The sequel, ''Surviving a World of Fiction'', continues the story of the first,though if you want to skip to the second game he provides a fairly decent synopsis of the first game. It also has a [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10067853/1/Users-in-a-World-of-Fiction midquel between the stories]] in the form of a crossover with the "Users" series by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3928220/Starspike7 Starspike 7]]
* ''Comments'':
** This story is one of the best Self Inserts on the site, and full of humor, yet also has a serious plot and lots of twists. There are a couple that seem kinda Dues Ex Machinaish, but over all it works well. The author actually wrote out the entire story, before rebooting it and rewriting it into the version linked too above.
** While the crossover isn't required reading for the sequel, it will help you get many of the jokes, and gives more character development to Bourne. The whole series is highly recommended by this troper, as is Spike's separate Users series. Despite being SIs, the two authors manage to avoid most of the usual tropes and cliches, while keeping just enough of them to stay entertaining.
** This story is one that you'll love, or you'll hate. Personally, I go with the former.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7383486/1/Survivors Survivors]]'' by dragondrewversion2
* Recommended by: [=TheJabawack=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': Four strangers; a human, a krogan, a turian, and a quarian; are stranded in London during the Reaper invasion of Earth. Forced together through strange circumstances, they'll need to work together if they hope to survive...
* ''Comments'': First of all a warning, this fic is centered around four OCs and there is no Shepard in sight, he is mentioned in passing by other characters when appropriate but he is not part of the story. That said, the characters feel real and their interactions are handled quite well. There is plenty of action and the banter between the characters is really good.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13535142/1/Tomorrow-s-Dawn-For-Tomorrow-trilogy-pt-2 Tomorrow's Dawn]]'' by [=ElectricZ=]
* Recommended by: Hanz, SithkingZero, owlbot, Bustamouse, Murus, The Empyrean Herald
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After Legion was destroyed in a mission, Tali is assigned the duty of recovering its memories despite her hatred of the Geth. As she views the last few moments of Legion, she begins to understand why the others see it as one of their TrueCompanions as it proceeds to try and save it's squadmates.
* ''Comments'': Fascinating portrayal of Tali's hatred of Legion being tested. Likewise, it's also very interesting how the author portrays Legion as capable of extraordinary heroism [[spoiler:and ultimately, sacrifice]], though still in his ultra-logical fashion.
** One of the few fics that actually made me cry, and not just for Legion! Tali's growth was very well done. She blows up violently at Garrus when he and the rest of the crew mourn the Geth, plots to send Legion's remains back to the fleet, but stops because she made a promise to Shepard. Upon retrieving the data, [[spoiler:she sees that minutes before the battle where Legion was killed, Shepard learned from him that the Geth were willing to make peace with the Quarians, but just didn't know how to communicate it. And when the team was ambushed and completely helpless, Legion's programs voted to go on a suicide mission to save them, resulting in his destruction, losing the chance for peace forever.]] Tali's anguish over deciding to save Legion or give him to the fleet was heart-wrenching. This fic is also notable for having an alternate ending [[spoiler: that the author describes as a save-game where he went back and upgraded Legion's shields so the damage is not irreparable. Legion's interruption of a depressing after-action meeting got the tears flowing again. I'm a sucker for happy endings!]] While not as emotionally hard hitting as the original ending, it adds a lot of wonderful dialogue and shows how [[spoiler:even a Quarian and Geth can become friends.]] A marvelous read!
** I just don't understand why I didn't read this one earlier. I think I was worried about it making me sad. Which it did, but... not at all in the way I expected. This is a truly fantastic fic, with Tali and yes, even Legion, written very much in character. If you like either character at ''all,'' you have to read this. The poster above me has already mentioned a lot of the great things in it, but let me just say that whichever ending you consider canon (technically, the alternate ending did go on to be canon in the writer's universe, with an in-progress sequel that, while less emotional and somewhat less character-focused than Tomorrow's Dawn, follows logically on from the conclusion of this fic, still with the great characterization, now of all members of Shepard's squad (and a few outside it!)), both are fantastic. Both make me cry, although for very different reasons. Absolutely recommend this to everyone! --@/{{Alynnidalar}}
** Has a sequel spinning off from the alternate ending, where Tali manages to ''save'' Legion after reviewing his memories, titled [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6604741/1/For_Tomorrow_We_Die ''For Tomorrow We Die.'']] It's fantastic.
*** @/{{Murus}}: Agreed -- can't recommend it enough. One of the best fanfics I've ever read, hands-down.
** Just another nail hammering in the point that this is an exceptionally good fic, with accurate, lovable characterizations and ripping writing. This author's entire sequence of ME 2 fics might be the best I've ever read, and the plot of [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6604741/1/For_Tomorrow_We_Die ''For Tomorrow We Die.'']] is written with more passion and grounding in the Mass Effect universe than ME 3.
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''FanFic/TranscendentHumanity'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1935525/Solaris242 Solaris242]]
* Recommended by: midorigreen, Racheakt, @/USABobcat, @/UncloudedTJ
* ''Status'': Complete
* Synopsis: ''...And behind the defensive fleet, the true power of humanity. An occluded star, a supercomputer larger than worlds, filled with a trillion minds. Transcendent Humanity speaks as one, the force of their voice ripping through firewalls, absorbing language and codex, booming from every device capable aboard the Turian ships. This is Sol, the home of humanity. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.''
* ''Comments'': Humanity develops differently due to an early warning from the Protheans, and become a race of Uploaded AIs. In-progress, but highly interesting read with a dynamic take on how the Citadel would react to another race of AIs. Also, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Geth eating]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin toast]].
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/152460 The Uncounted]]'' by Moranth
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''A series of oneshots exploring what *might be* the motives and final moments of the mercs you encounter on many of the missions in ''Mass Effect 2''.
* ''Comments'': In a sea of hamfisted romantic fluff and tacky self-inserts, this is a concept that shows incredible promise. While it's only one chapter in -- and extremely short -- it manages to breathe life into a nameless mercenary and, in just under 700 words, gives him a character that may make you feel kinda bad for shooting him. Here's hoping for more in the future and that it's not another DeadFic already.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/41110044/chapters/103045620 Unexpected Alliances]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/ArtoosPlan/pseuds/ArtoosPlan ArtoosPlan]]
* Recommended by [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Ongoing
* ''Synopsis'': The skies above Mindoir, 2170. Commander Hannah Shepard, temporarily in command of the ''SSV Einstein'', receives a request to open diplomatic relations from a heretofore unknown alien race...the Quarians.
* ''Comments'': A "Sheplings" fic, which as the synopsis makes clear, breaks from canon in some other major ways. It delves into the interesting question of how Humans and Quarians both could have benefitted if two 'outsider' species became allied, but follows the story of the first game fairly closely aside from that. Has a subplot of John/Tali and has begun to tease Jane/Garrus, though nothing has really happened with either as yet
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12574777/1/Uplifted Uplifted]]'' and its sequel ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12591430/1/Uplifted-Intervention Uplifted: Intervention]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
* Recommended by: Magyareagle, Valarshran
* ''Status''
** ''Uplifted'': Complete
** ''Intervention'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': AU: Desperate for an end to the exile, now in its forty seventh year, the Quarians decide on a last audacious plan to help them destroy the Geth. However, January 1942 in occupied Russia might not be the best place for first contact with humanity... Eventual Tali/Shep
* ''Comments'': Both fics complete. These stories explore what happens when the desperate Quarians decide to Uplift Humanity in the middle of the Second World War. When Hanala Jarva crash lands on earth during a survey mission, she makes a historic first contact that has radical implications for Humanity. Unfortunately, the Quarians are not fully aware of just who they are choosing to uplift. A brilliant and detailed alternate history written by someone who has a clear grasp of the events and personalities involved, [=DarkDanny=] avoids the mistake most fanfic authors make when writing alternate histories by going back to beginning and going from there. He ultimately plans to write a series chronicling three generations of Quarians and Humans, with the final series focusing on Shepard and Tali, something that I am quite certain he will accomplish. Glimpses into the future are told through a series of interludes that do not detract from the brilliant story at the center of it. Anyone with an interest in good storytelling or alternate history will love this, in large part due to the complex characters. Fair warning though, given the time period, many of the human characters are sexist and racist, and realistically ignorant of what is going on around them. This in turn makes for a much better story.
** The author does address the Holocaust in the series though not until the second book. Given the period when it is set, it makes sense, since the Final Solution did not begin until 1942. This makes story all the more chilling when you hear men like Himmler discuss exactly what they are planning. Kudos to the author for avoiding the black and white characterization of historical figures that often happens in stories about the period. There are bright points even within the German High command, most notable Rommel. Historical figures include Mad Jack Churchill, Erwin Rommel, Bill Donovan and Otto Skorzeny.
** I was suspicious of the premise at first but it grew on me. I'm Jewish, so any story that has a nazi protagonist is automatically suspect in my eyes. But the story proved me wrong. The characters are both sympathetic and yet true to their personalities. Joachim Hoch is on the one hand an anti-Semitic bastard, on the other he is decent man who begins to change his views once he realizes the crimes of the regime he supports. Other characters share a similar duality. I think the best part is seeing how history changes with the events and how everything leads to young Tali and Shepard, childhood sweethearts who grew up together on Rannoch, which sets the stage for the stories taking place in the ''Mass Effect'' timeline. Dark Danny is a very good author.
** Eh, IMO, the quality of writing and sheer amount of typos leaves something to be desired. Good premise, but I feel executed poorly.
** I'll admit the first two's quality needs some work, but it's always been on the upswing lately.
** Tags: ''AlternateHistory'',
** Tropes Page [[Fanfic/{{Uplifted}} here]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12729593/1/Uplifted-Last-Days Uplifted: Last Days]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
*
*
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': These are the last days. The last days of the Third Reich, the last days of the Western Front and the last days of Humanity being alone in the universe. The world is about to change; but will it be for the better?
* ''Comments'': This fic firmly answers any questions anyone had about the direction of the series, as well as showing some of the best character development I've read in fanfiction by illustrating in a realistic manner how a SS officer might eventually change his views and become a more tolerant individual. The growth of Joachim Hoch has been a fascinating journey to follow, and this story really takes the cake in that regard. Excellent writing, and the inclusion of some fantastic new characters, such as Rabbi Edward Asher, and the downfall of the Nazi regime make this story a fitting conclusion to the first part of Uplifted series.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12645118/1/Uplifted-Revolution Uplifted: Revolution]]'' by [=DarkDanny=]
* Recommended by: Valarshran, [=JadeCrisanthamum=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Romance is not the focus of the fics, but they feature Hanala Jarva and Joachim Hoch (OC/OC), Male Shepard/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': Millions are being shipped to extermination camps across Europe, the Allied bombing raids are growing more fierce, the 6th Army in Stalingrad is on the verge of collapse and the Anglo-American invasion of Algeria will become a reality. The insanity that is the Third Reich is beginning to show. But little does anyone know that revolution is in the air. The uprising has begun..
* ''Comments'': The final chapter of the Uplifted Trilogy, and all out civil war in Germany seems to be the order of the day. We see that [=DarkDanny=] has known were he was going with this series from day one, which is impressive to say the least. As I said when I reviewed the previous two stories, since I'm Jewish, I tend to be a bit sensitive to depictions of the Third Reich, but I find that despite the language used in the series, the author is clear on where he stands in regards to the final solution. My only gripe with the series is that I wish the author would check his spelling for typos. Can't fault him too much though, he's written 400+ pages in three months. Rommel is a true badass in these stories, but I find that the master diplomat Halid Zorah really takes the cake. I also love how we see the Quarians at a time when they are far more like the Colonials from Battlestar than the broken people we see in ''Mass Effect''.
** The author has fixed the earlier spelling errors, and this series has really caught my imagination. The author is already planning a second trilogy set in 2,000, focusing on the descendants of the characters in the first series. It's well thought out, the characters are flawed and surprisingly likable, and it's quite well written. Proof that the remaining 10% is worth launching a coup against the Nazis for.
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''{{Fanfic/Warverse}}''
* Recommended by: @/axiom2, Omeganian
* Status: Ongoing series, first and second parts complete.
* Synopsis: Instead of finding a treasure trove of Protean Tech on Mars, Humanity finds empty ruins, leading to them advancing on an entirely different route than in Canon.
* Tags: Alternate Universe
* Comments: (axiom12) Personally, it was a great read. Aside from details at the beginning of the story that clash with details at the end (Which the author seems to recognize and is working on), the action is phenomenal, the characters great (You will never forget the name Christopher Mcgraw), and the Human Tech uniquely interesting, despite the author-recognized similarities to Halo, which he claims are largely coincidental. The only problem I had was the grammar, which improves greatly as the story continues, but suffers near the beginning, and the plot, which, while not perfect, had some weaknesses; however, through correspondence with the Author (who seems to answer all of his fan-mail), he recognizes this as well, and is working on 'beefing it up' as he releases the Sequel.
** YMMV. I found that it turned into Council-bashing pretty quick, and some of the Human tech and plot elements are so glaringly based off of Halo that it would almost have been a relief if the author made it a straight-up crossover (Orbital Dropping Death Dealers and the [=SIGMAs=] might be what killed this fic for me).
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5768891/1/Who_Saves_the_Hero Who Saves the Hero?]]'' by Kudara
* Recommended by: Sithking Zero
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard had been brought back from death by Cerberus, but she suspects TIM has manipulated her into working for him and that he has his own hidden agenda. Who can she trust besides Garrus and Tali to help her discern the truth? Will be [=FemShep/=]Samara.
* ''Pairing(s)'': [=FemShep=]/Samara, though this is notably NOT the point of this story.
* Tags: Slightly lemon, also female/female relationships.
* ''Comments'': Wow. This story is one of the several fics that is a re-written version of [=ME2=], but done in a really, really awesome way. Starts out with Shepard being very paranoid about Cerberus and the Illusive Man, but that in itself starts off a chain of events that really make this story stand out. A very different Shepard, one who actually thinks about where funds are coming from, one who is trying to seek out the best in everyone, and making it look good while doing it. Actually, I'm not doing a good job at summing it up. Just read it.
** Spark Moon: The only thing that holds me back from giving it my full endorsement is that I prefer a celibate Samara (personal preference, sorry), but that aside, it ''is'' a well-written fic that pulls off a somewhat-saintly, but still flawed Shepard rather well.
** I would recommend this, but the author's grammar is abysmal. The story is interesting, but the constant mechanical errors detract from the presentation.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG:[[{{Shipping}} Shipping Fics]]]]
[[folder:Shipping Fics]]
''Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.''
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/30918581 Ark/Angel]]'' by [[https://zirconaworks.com ZirconaWorks]]
* Recommended by: Heirofapophis
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Garrus/Female Shepard.
* ''Synopsis'': Set after Mass Effect 3 (destroy ending with a Paragon Shep). Garrus and the rest of the Normandy crew are stranded up until Garrus' past as Archangel catches up with him in the form of an Asari commando. Kind of noir-ish.
* ''Comments'': Satisfying and action packed, with cool illustrations to help your imagination along.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5733703/1/bClearly_b_ba_b_bMistake_b Clearly A Mistake]]'' by Metal Dragon Kiryu
* Recommended by: Ethan Miller, Spark Moon
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Jack/Miranda, Female Shepard/Liara, Kelly > Shepard.
* ''Synopsis'': Set during the second game, the story focuses on the relationship between Miranda and Jack. It contains f/f sex, albeit not explicit, and a moderate amount of swearing.
* ''Comments'': It's a well written story that takes itself seriously. The characters are in character, the pairing is well developed. This editor thinks it's an interesting story.
** An interesting story, to say the least. Unlike most Jack/Miranda fics that throw them together to cheaply titillate readers, this one takes a more mature approach to it. Worth the time to read and some of the follow-ups to this are quite fun too, in this troper's opinion.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7229101/1/Escaping_the_Past Escaping the Past]]'' by [=RetailAvenger85=]
* Recommended by: [=Bbg1129=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Lt Kaidan Alenko learns to let go of the things that haunt his past with the help of his odd new Commander. His overwhelming urge to protect everyone is derailed by a woman who can protect herself. The author's "headcanon", expanding on games.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Kaidan
* ''Comments'': Basically goes through ''Mass Effect 1'' from the point of view of Kaidan. Author does a great job inserting game dialog, and adding their own. Funny and adorable, The author really gets inside Kaidan's head, and fleshes out his character. Followed by [=ME2=] sequel [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7684444/1/Repairing_the_Present Repairing the Present]] and [=ME3=] [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7941728/1/Creating_the_Future Creating the future]] (currently a WIP) The series is definitely worth a read. Takes a few chapters for the author to hit their stride, but settles in nicely.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12008442/1/First-Love First Love]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7205898/DRWPJT DRWPJT]]
* Recommended by: [=ronnambi=]
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/OC
* ''Status'': In Progress
* ''Synopsis'': "Some people spend their whole lives searching for love, others stumble into it completely by chance. Nicola "Nikki" Shepard was devastated when her childhood sweetheart left Mindoir, but fate is a fickle creature and in the long run it was probably for the best. Starting with brief snapshots on Mindoir and other events pre-[=ME1=] then hopefully continuing throughout the trilogy." --Official summary by the author.
* ''Comments'': A very sweet, fluffy OC/Fem!Shep childhood romance to marriage fic, where the plot heavy elements of the canon have a nice shot of sweetness and light created by Nikki and Trish's interactions. The story starts pre-ME: 1, with a colonist fem!Shep and the cute girl who she spots from her history class, rolls through her years as a private in the Alliance Marines and how she becomes Commander Shepard, with all the highs and lows that come with the role. The start of the ME: 2 timeline is a bit depressing and is a case of assumptions made by Nikki, but all and all a nice, sweet and funny fic that I would recommend everyone give a shot. I also loved how organic all the characters are, with the inter team interactions making the fic well worth the wait when the author puts up the new chapter.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6657831/1/For-Such-Loss-Abundant-Recompense For Such Loss, Abundant Recompense]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1938295/kalenel kalenel]]
* Recommended by: Mad_Alice
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Femshep/Thane
* ''Synopsis'': And here we have a series of scenes exploring different facets of a developing relationship between Femshep and Thane. It's not love at first sight for these two, and like any two people they have to work at understanding each other.
* ''Comments'': Despite Thane being specifically engineered by Bioware as MrFanservice, there's surprisingly few truly decent Thane/Femshep fics out there. This is one of them. The author's style is eloquent, coherent, and she effortlessly keeps everyone in character whilst fully fleshing out one of the more rushed romances in the game. Lovely and thoroughly enjoyable, you won't want to stop reading!
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7910822/1/The-Fourth-Option The Fourth Option]]'' by commandocucumber
* Recommended by: [=[LooksAwesome]=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': M!Shepard/Miranda Lawson
* ''Synopsis'': "John Shepard and Miranda Lawson have survived the Reaper War, now all they have to do is square away the galaxy's problems before they can move on with their own lives. Together."
* ''Comments'': The writer began typing this out almost immediately after they finished their first playthrough of ''Mass Effect 3'' in response to, well, [[BrokenBase you know...]] The Reapers are defeated (sort of), but Shepard is now forced to confront what exactly the events of his life and the choices he has made along the way have cost him as a human being. In addition to his own personal crisis, Shepard has to deal with a galaxy on the edge of (another) war, a treacherous Alliance brass -- including his own mother, no less, a grieving Quarian mechanic, a (duh!) useless Council, and, of course, his paranoid, neurotic girlfriend. Stands as one of the best Miranda/Shepard fics out there.
** Miranda has her own spot in the limelight; including the opportunity to explain key events from her perspective, interact with Hannah Shepard and Tali, and share her deepest insecurities with Shepard.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6765206/1/Gabby_and_Ken Gabby and Ken]]'' by [=JoeLaTurkey=]
* Recommended: by chankljp
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairings'': Gabby/Ken, Shepard/Kelly
* ''Synopsis'': A story that take place during the events of VideoGame/MassEffect2, starting with Kelly and Kasumi getting into a wager to get everyone's favorite engineering duo into admitting their feeling for each other. Things get interesting as the Normandy crew got some shore leave on Illium, with large number of crew members trying to ship the two of them.
* ''Comments'': As of the writing of this recommendation, this is the only story on Gabby and Ken that is available on FanFiction.net. Everyone in the story fits their characterization in the game, with the trademark sarcastic humor from the duo and all other characters. Includes some minor shipping between Kelly and Shepard.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5730585/1/Geth_Infiltrator Geth Infiltrator]]'' by [=DiChromate=]
* Recommended by: Meat Wisdom
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Tali/Legion
* ''Synopsis'': In preparation for the Suicide Mission, Shepard calls on Tali and Legion to accompany him on a mission, in order to get the two to get along both on and off of the battlefield. Tali learns that there is more to Legion than your average Geth, and is more than surprised when she starts developing feelings for it.
* ''Comments'': This story is quite entertaining, managing to seamlessly meld both action and romance. The author even showcases several gameplay elements, such as ammo/weapon switching, Suicide Mission mechanics (the second half of the story takes place during it and gives it a new angle), and having Legion do things that only a synthetic could. Tali's relationship with Legion is also well done, going from barely hiding her contempt for it to falling in love. Don't worry, the story addresses how that would even be possible (namely the fact that Tali can rarely leave her suit and Legion being a robot and all).
** @/{{Night}}: Entertaining, and it captures Legion's mannerisms both vocal and physical very well. Tali is also quite convincing in both action and thoughts. (Even Shepard, Gabby, and Ken talk and act like themselves, which considering the number of Shepards In Name Only is pretty impressive.) Where the story falls down is in portraying Legion's own thoughts. This is entirely forgivable, I think, because a human author is always going to have trouble describing how a collective machine consciousness thinks.
** Iaculus: I'm afraid the speed at which Tali's feelings for Legion developed kind of snapped my WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. There should have been a bit more of an intermediary stage between 'mutual tolerance' and 'wants to get into the walking death-machine's metaphorical pants', in my opinion. If it hadn't been for that, though, I think I might have rather enjoyed it.
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''Fanfic/GhostGhostIKnowYouLiveWithinMe'' By ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4005974/theherocomplex theherocomplex]].
* [[http://masseffectkink.livejournal.com/6870.html?thread=31267030#t31267030 MassKink link]]. [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/825044/chapters/1566083 Archive of our own link]].
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Dormant; last updated January 2018
* ''Synopsis'': After Shepard dies over Alchera, Garrus goes to Omega to bury his grief. But when she comes back to him as a ghost, neither of them are sure of what's happening. All they know is that they have work to do.
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': A rather unusual fic with supernatural elements that will hook you right at the start. Aside from our main characters, we also get to know and bond with the Archangels' squad, following their two years of story until the [[ForegoneConclusion inevitable end]] happens.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5283246/1/GT_Snap_Shots GT Snap Shots]]'' and ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5777969/1/GT_Snap_Shots_Reboot GT Snap Shots: Reboot]]'' by [=LockDown=]
* Recommended by: @/{{Firebert}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Tali
* ''Synopsis'': A series of one-shots about the Garrus and Tali pairing.
* ''Comments'': Very nice fanfics of this pairing, with correctly guessed examples of events in ''Mass Effect 2'' in the first fic. It features great character development, as well.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4213483/1/Iunctio Iunctio]]'' by Sinvraal
* Recommended by: Damsel Of Distress, Joysweeper, Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/Kaidan, mild Joker/Ashley
* ''Synopsis'': Explorations, variations and off-camera moments from the main storyline. Multiple character [=POVs=].
* ''Comments'': Tempted to put this in general fics as lots of other character interactions is explored than just Shenko. Utter brilliant attention to narrative detail and is easily one of the best ''Mass Effect'' fics.
** Joysweeper: ...Wow. This is ''really good'' fic. I love the level of detail, the exploration of quiet moments, the action, the occasional HumansThroughAlienEyes...
** As an addendum to that, @/{{Leliel}} would like to say that where this fic isn't a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, it's SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}}. While the alien characters are OutOfFocus, the few chapters from their point of view manage to pack a lot of CharacterDevelopment despite being as short as the others are. As for the couple themselves...Geniune is too one-dimensional a word to describe them.
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10428872/1/Lights-in-the-Sky Lights in the Sky]]'' by Vorcha Girl
* Recommended by: [=JasonThursday=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/James Vega + some Kaidan Alenko/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': "James Vega had dreamed about Rennah Shepard for years and always hoped to meet her, but when he's tasked with keeping her safe on Earth he gets more than he bargained for; she's argumentative, stubborn and sexy as sin. Joining the crew of the Normandy, fighting the Reapers and falling in love was never part of the plan..."
* ''Comments'': What started out a good [=FemShep=]/Vega fic has become one of my favourite ''Mass Effect'' fics. Highly worth checking out as it's original, clever and well written. It starts prior to ''Mass Effect 3'' and has so far followed the characters through most of [=ME3=], staying canon and telling the story through the eyes of Vega and Shepard. There is a focus on Cerberus as the main antagonists and they are the catalyst for some of the most original plot twists I've seen in a romance. (Mainly romance but contains elements of science fiction, horror and action.)
** Jumps POV from Vega to Shepard, and sometimes to Kaidan, who serves to give the audience a really unique perspective on the main characters.
** This author doesn't stray away from some brutal moments and as well as containing in depth descriptions of violence and gore, it also contains a very graphic torture scene in the later chapters.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6455599/1/Learning_Experiences Learning Experiences]]'' by inthefadeforever
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': AU with no reapers, Shepard as a Spectre candidate and Saren as her instructor.
* ''Pairing'': Saren/Shepard
* ''Comments'': Best completed fanfic of this pairing I can find, excellent plot and character development.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6768903/1/Manipulations Manipulations]]'' by akg.writes
* Recommended by: Tropulastic
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Female Shepard/Kaidan Alenko, ShipTease of Garrus and Kasumi
* ''Warnings'': Out of 87+ chapters, a few of them have explicit content
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard has newfound biotic powers, thanks to the Lazarus Project. She doesn't know how to use them though, so a certain L2 biotic is hired to be her teacher. But things won't be easy: Shepard and Kaidan aren't on good terms, and neither are Alliance and Cerberus officers. They'll all have to [[TeethClenchedTeamwork work together]], as there are bigger interests in play. And why was Shepard turned into a biotic, anyway?
* ''Comments'': There's some good technical explanations of the ''Mass Effect'' [[AllThereInTheManual lore]], and the plot is OriginalFlavour of good quality. Just for that it's worth checking, even if the story moves slowly. However, the fic's true strength is characterization: most characters make an appearance, they're all ''very'' good at their jobs, and they're all consistent with their in-game versions. Of all of them, Shepard, Kaidan and Miranda are the most fleshed out: their behaviors and actions are carefully examined, compared, contrasted, and their points of view make for an entertaining read of the fic's events, as well as give access to their hidden depths. As for the romance, their relationship compares their past and their present, which makes it kind of bittersweet... but deep down, they still care for each other. Overall, it's a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming, mostly fun ride, and if you like snarky writing and ''long'' fanfics, you'll love every second of it.
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''Mass Mayhem'' by Universitas
* Recommended by: Spark Moon
* Vanished from the internet. Please post a link if found.
* ''Pairing(s)'': M!Shepard/Joker (ergo, slash)
* ''Synopsis'': Quoted from the summary itself: ''100 drabbles in 20 weeks exploring Victor Shepard and his crew. '' Spans the first game and is now entering into ''Mass Effect 2''.
* ''Comments'': Drabbles themselves can be hit or miss, what with having to cram part of a story into 100-500 words or less. This anthology does it with flying colors, hitting on key parts of the characters' personalities in such a small space. (This troper's personal favorites are #'s 72 and 90) YMMV on the slash component, but even this troper-who dislikes Joker-admits the writer does a very good job of writing the sarcastic helmsman, keeping him ''very'' much in character while writing a relationship with a male Shepard. Speaking of Shepard, the one in this story is one of the more interesting takes on the male version of the player character.
** There is now a non-drabble-based sequel, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6195250/1/Chessboard Chessboard,]]'' focusing on Victor Shepard's MysteriousPast told in flashback at the beginning of each chapter (sometimes with its own cliffhanger) and the crew's attempts to find him when he goes missing because of it.
** Now has [[Fanfic/VictorShepardverse its own article.]]
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8427829/1/Memoirs Memoirs]]'' By: Sharrukin
* Recommended by: [=Avenger09=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Male Shepard/Liara
* ''Synopsis'': Centuries after the end of the Reaper War, a respected asari scientist and political leader tells the story of her youthful adventures with the legendary Shepard. Fighting to save the galaxy is one thing, but figuring out human motivations can be much harder. Science fiction, action-adventure, and a romance on slow burn.
* ''Comments'': A series telling the events of ''Mass Effect'' from the perspective of Liara T'Soni revealing the part she played in the Reaper war, while also telling her own personal story that history has yet to learn. Continued with ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8776523/1/Memoirs-The-Illium-Years The Illium Years]]'' (Complete) and ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9582113/1/Memoirs-The-Reaper-War The Reaper War]]'' (Complete)
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3985805/1/Modus_Operandi Modus Operandi]]'' by Pereprin
* Recommended by: Tolgron
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Starting just after Shepard receives command of the Normandy, Modus Operandi flits back and forth between Shepard's current missions and interactions with her crew, and the story of how she came to be the woman capable of being the first human Spectre. All the while, increasingly towards the ending chapters, Shepard forms a rather complicated relationship with her Turian squadmate, Garrus Vakarian. Rated M for adult language and rather steamy romance scenes.
* ''Comments'': Easily one of the best ''Mass Effect'' fanfics out there, the narrative is approached maturely and with utmost respect for the source it draws from. The dialogue is so believable that you can quite easily hear the characters speaking as you read it, and the narrative is very skillfully woven together such that you can't help but keep reading. Top class stuff.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/6335266/chapters/14517949#workskin Never Let You Go]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Kate_Shepard/pseuds/Kate_Shepard Kate_Shepard]]
* Recommended by: OperationOverlord
* Status: Complete
* Synopsis: What if Garrus was aboard the Normandy when the Collectors attacked? What if Shepard didn't get spaced alone?
* Pairing(s): Shepard/Garrus Vakarian
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6038495/1/Nothing_Ventured_Nothing_Gained Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained]]'' by ghost.713
* Recommended by: @/SaltyWound, [=Pyrotorch246=], Nuti
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairings'': Kolyat/Oriana
* ''Synopsis'': ''Guardian angels have never been perfect creatures, but a one-time hitman might be stretching things.'' After his assassination attempt is foiled, Kolyat Krios begins working for Captain Bailey on Zakera Ward, reluctantly and irritably attempting to repent for his crime. At the same time, Oriana ''Solheim'', now attending multiple schools on the Citadel, moves into the apartment next door to Koylat. An incredibly awkward, yet terribly cute relationship inevitably forms.
* ''Comments'': On first glance, this may sound like a desperate attempt to pair up two side-characters for the hell of it. The two characters are brought together realistically and their interactions feel genuine. Also happens to feature some of the best Captain Bailey writing I've ever seen. You can easily hear Michael Hogan delivering the lines.
** Seconded once again by [=Pyrotorch246=]. It's a fun read that shows that life goes on while Shepard is out saving the galaxy. The writing and characterizations are excellent, as is the plot.
** Yep, great read that fleshes out the wides universe and characters very well.
** Thirded (fourth-ed?) by Nuti. I could say that while this is a shipping fic, most of the time it was actually an OddFriendship fic, and it was brilliant. I also liked how Kolyat's personality and behavior was played for both comedy and drama, as well as portraying the galaxy from the point of view of a drell.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6149924/1/Our_Love_Is_Problematic Our Love Is Problematic]]'' by Finn Solomon
* Recommended by: Dutch Warlord, SithkingZero
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Male Shepard/Subject Zero
* ''Synopsis'': From the opening Chapter "A ''Mass Effect 2'' fic detailing the growing relationship between Commander John Shepard and the mysterious, violent biotic known only as Jack." Exactly what it says, starts from Purgatory and continues onwards. Ongoing.
* ''Comments'': There's more Shepard/Tali romance fics than anyone can shake a stick at, and this happens not only to put Jack in a prominent role but happens to be well written. It covers as mentioned from the Purgatory Mission to Suicide Run and goes past. Rather humorous, especially since Shepard isnt played as a stereotypical Do-Good Hero Jesus type, but a person with flaws. Strongly Recommended.
** If for no other reason, the scene between Shepard and Morinth is terrifying and amazing in its own right. I love the story, but that has to be one of my favorite parts.
** This Troper found the story to be largely underwhelming. Shepard has inconsistent characterisation and came across as a singularly ineffective individual instead of the best living human soldier. The relationship between Jack and Shepard felt very underdeveloped through the [=ME2=] portion, sticking to the canon beats to the detriment of the story. It's also dialog heavy and lacking in descriptions.
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/362903/chapters/589309 The Parting Glass]]'' by spicyshimmy
* Recommended by: Katseester
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Post [=ME3=] fic. Highly speculative. SPOILERS! In the aftermath of Shepard's choice, Steve Cortez and James Vega figure out what it means to be alive in London, Kaidan Alenko figures out what it means to be alive at all, and Garrus Vakarian figures out someone else might just be alive, too.
* ''Pairings'': James/Steve, M!Shep/Kaidan
* ''Comments'': Poignant and thoughtful, this fic ponders the effects Shepard's decision has on civilization from several points of view over the course of 18 chapters. Written before the release of the Extended Cut. Highly recommended. The rest of this author's works are definitely worth a look too.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6261542/1/Persephone_Rising Persephone Rising]]'' by [[PenName ansinna]] (A shared account belonging to [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2248257/Evil_Sapphyre Evil Sapphyre]], [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2277883/jillyfae jillyfae]], and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2233028/Sia_Later SiaLater]])
* Recommended by: Lady Demonique, [=Pyrotorch246=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': [[CrackPairing fem!Shepard/Joker]], [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan fem!Shepard/Kaidan]], [[BelligerentSexualTension fem!Shepard/Garrus]].
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''Three Shepards were born, instead of just one. Alexis Shepard, the Spacer and War Hero, as beautiful as she is driven. Ella Shepard, the Mindoir-born, Butcher of Torfan with a heart of gold. Meghan Shepard, Earthborn reformed criminal and the Sole Survivor of Akuze. They've all been assigned to the Normandy SR-1 for her shake-down cruise. But no one ever sends these marines out together for just a shake-down cruise...''
* ''Comments'': A single Commander Shepard is already pretty damn badass, but putting three different combinations of Shepard's backgrounds together just takes the awesome up to eleven. The three authors who co-write this fanfic work together very well, and manage to make their respective Shepards believable. The action sequences are brilliant, the pacing fast but not rushed, and the exploration of the Shepards' relationship with their Love Interests are handled sensitively. All in all, a very entertaining read.
** The story is reasonably well written (I'm a little tough to please in that department), and what Lady Demonique said holds true in my opinion too. What caught my eye is the attention to detail with the more military part of the fic-how the crew and the Shepards interact, and how things are dealt with, plus certain bits of terminology. It's enough to convince me (if it isn't clear by now, I like seeing that sort of thing done right) that at least one of the authors is or was either a marine or a sailor, which makes it that much more interesting.
** While the story is well written, the fact that the three protagonists are named Shepard can make it quite confusing as to whom they are talking about. Also, I had the impression [[FemaleGaze Kaidan's butt (all of his body)]] kept coming up in every discussion the three Shepards have for the 20 first chapters. While not plot relevant or important, it can be quite irritating. cricri3007.
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[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8664129/1/Queen-s-Gambit-Accepted Queen's Gambit Accepted]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3539806/fahRENheit2006 fahRENheit2006]]
* Recommended by: pistachioinfernal
* ''Status'': Dead
* Synopsis: Specialist Samantha Traynor, one of the Alliance's best and brightest, was relatively content working in Alliance R&D. But then... the Reapers came. Full of action, profanity, sarcasm, friendship, and gripping chess matches that will leave you breathless.
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Samantha Traynor
* ''Comments:'': There aren't a lot of fics exploring the Femshep/Traynor relationship, but even if there were, this one would stick out. Humour, pathos, conspiracy theories, chess games that are about flirting, and eavesdropping on diplomats is only scratching the surface. I really don't do it justice, check it out and see for yourself!
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''[[Fanfic/RazorsEdge Razor's Edge]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2399641/Tairis_Deamhan Tairis Deamhan]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/HerrWozzeck, Sigge, Bustamouse, nitewind, Crimson Shogun, midorigreen
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Tali/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Life is all about finding something worth living for, the question is what is that when you're a spectre that has already died once? John Shepard seeks to find this out as he begins to realize the extent of his feelings to a certain Quarian engineer...
* ''Comments'': Possibly the single finest example of Tali/Shepard I can find anywhere on the internet. Tairis Deamhan has a real eye for character development; everything flows incredibly naturally in terms of character actions, and when we finally begin to get Tali and Shepard's romance after a very slow build-up, it's astoundingly beautiful. It's also a great read given how he manages to treat all of the missions/assignments in the fic, giving so much more emotional edge to each one (of particular note is his treatment of Samara's loyalty mission).
** Seconded, sure it contains some misspellings and faulty grammars but is really well done and is a very good read.
*** Fortunately, the author is currently (while also writing ''Requiem'') in the process of correcting the grammatical errors of the prior stories.
** The sequel, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6814325/1/Razors_Edge_Dark_Witness Dark Witness]]'', is also complete. It covers the events of Lair of the Shadow Broker, still with plenty of Shep/Tali goodness.
** The third installment in the series, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7952484/1/Razors_Edge_Requiem Requiem]]'', has begun, and will follow the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', with many creative liberties taken. Such as [[spoiler: Shepard struggling with indoctrination while a Reaper avatar in the form of a ghostly [[ArchNemesis Saren]] haunts his dreams]].
*** The whole trilogy is complete.
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''[[http://punishandenslavesuckers.tumblr.com/post/80052536134/if-the-geth-have-a-soul-then-it-is-a-strange-one The Robot]]'' by punishandenslavesuckers
* Recommended by: @/{{Jonn}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': "If the Geth have a soul then it is a strange one, but if the soul exists then so too do all the sorrows that comes with it."
* ''Pairing(s)'': Tali/Legion
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5724140/1/Rock_Steady Rock Steady]]'' by Gagged Cenobite
* Recommended by: @/HerrWozzeck, pcy623, {{@/Oracle}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Thane/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': Nobody's really whole, we're just broken in different ways from each other. Jack learns this as her friendship with a certain Drell assassin slowly intensifies.
* Comments: One would think pairing a violent, manic-depressive, and overall bitchy character like Jack with a character who is pretty much her exact opposite would be impossible. And yet, Gagged Cenobite makes such a relationship work beautifully here, bringing Jack and Thane together in ways that are quite unexpected and yet work so well. The scenes before the Omega 4 relay ''especially'' make this pairing work; it could almost be a canon pairing the way it is handled so respectfully and delicately. Definitely a recommended read based on the strength of the character development on Jack's end throughout, too.
** Also there's a lovely cameo of Kasumi that's very in character. This is important because the author wrote this BEFORE Kasumi was released as DLC.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6086607/1/Something_Thatll_Last Something That'll Last]]'' by Popehippo
* Recommended by: Spark Moon, @/SaltyWound, Ultrayellow, SithkingZero, Bustamouse, StClair
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Background characters, specifically a salarian and an asari.
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary ''A small glimpse into the life of those outside of Commander Shepard's story; based on the interactions of two [=NPCs=] in Illium.'' That is to say, the unnamed salarian and his asari step-daughter you overhear on Illium.
* ''Comments'': This short, but extremely beautiful one-shot takes a glimpse not at Shepard or any of his/her crew, but two one-off characters you pass by on one of the main worlds of the sequel: a salarian searching for a gift for his significant other with his asari step-daughter. To say any more than that would be a spoiler, but I will leave you with this: have at least one tissue handy, because if you have a heart, you'll be misty-eyed at the end.
** *Sniff*...those two characters always got me when I passed by them in the game. Having now read this, I may never be able to walk by them again without crying my eyes out.
** This is excellent. Understated, simple, but absolutely beautiful. It's nice to see someone who writes such great stories about characters who don't get any interactions with Shepard at all.
** Nthing. Very well-written one-shot.
** It takes a lot to get me to cry, but I did feel a little bit of tightness in my chest and some prickling in my eyes when I read this. For a character who has maybe ten lines total, and you probably never hear all of them unless you're staying to listen, this is a very powerful story.
** All the Manly Tears.
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/2762003 Spare Parts]]'' by [=MsWikit=]
* Recommended by: Starshone
* Status: Complete
* Synopsis: Shepard's clone awakens in a hospital eight months after the end of the Reaper War (Control ending), and to her surprise everyone seems to think she's Shepard. She feigns amnesia in order to fool people into thinking she's the real deal, and begins to learn what it means to be the real Commander.
* Pairings: Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, Female Clone Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, Javik/Liara T'soni
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''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/203669/chapters/302045 A Star to Steer Her By]]''
* Recommended by: @/{{DealsWithFate3}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* After being revived by Cerberus, Shepard is not quite the stable commander that Joker remembers, and he's surprised to find himself helping her pick up the pieces. Follows [=ME2=] with a focus on the interstitial non-mission bits.
* Pairings: Fem!Shep/Joker
* Comments: It's a nice slow build Joker/Shep romance, starting with [=ME2=]. He has survivor's guilt. She's dealing with a new body and allegiance. It's quite good. Friends to lovers thing, with focus on other characters, a very fleshed out Shep, etc.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5764616/1/Strange_Bedfellows Strange Bedfellows]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2218474/Phoenike Phoenike]]
* Recommended by: [[http://kcblood2cheep.blogspot.com LoganLee88]]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': An alternate take to the love scene between Garrus and Shepard before the Omega-4 Relay and a post-Suicide Mission chapter as well.
* ''Pairing'': Garrus/Shepard
* ''Comments'': Unlike majority of Garrus/Shep fics this troper has read, this fic isn't all fluffy and stuff. It can be quite explicit in parts but what fascinates is how the pair are incompatible in some physical ways. Additionally, (not to give away any spoilers) this fiction reminds players that not everyone gets perfect playthroughs.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6424858/1/Supernova Supernova]]'' by Echo Alexia
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Nihlus meets Femshep prior to boarding the Normandy. They duke it out with lots of mercs.
* ''Pairing'': Nihlus/Shepard
* ''Comments'': A brilliant action packed romantic comedy,[[spoiler: despite the canonical tragic ending.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6285730/1/Taking_Back_Yesterday Taking Back Yesterday]]'' by Gagged Cenobite
* Recommended by: [=JackInqu=]
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Thane/Jack
* ''Synopsis'': An exercise in getting rid of unwanted tenants. Is it worth it to plan, organize, and execute a full-on assault on the biggest arms dealer in Citadel space, just to get some alone-time? You bet your ass it is.
* Comments: A sequel/side-story to ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5724140/1/Rock_Steady Rock Steady]]'', Jack and Thane help Kasumi with her mission to retrieve her partner's graybox from Donovan Hock. Only two chapters at this time, but it looks like it will be up to the standards of it's preceding story. Jack continues to go through CharacterDevelopment while Thane deals with some loose ends of his own. Oh, and Liara T'Soni makes an appearance. Spoilers for Kasumi's mission and "The Lair of the Shadow Broker."
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5813293/1/The_Thane_Krios_Experience The Thane Krios Experience]]'' by littleblackdog
* Recommended by: Joysweeper
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairings'': Garrus/Shepard, Garrus/Thane.
* ''Synopsis'': Nervous about the mechanics of blowing off steam with a human, Garrus seeks advice about the bane of xeno-loving Turians throughout the galaxy-- how is this kissing thing supposed to work, especially when you've got no lips?
* ''Comments'': It actually might fit better in the Humor section, but eh. The title's a reference to The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and despite an awkward line or two it's just fun.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7202905/1/A_Thessians_Whisper A Thessian's Whisper]]'' by [=PMC65=]
* Recommended by: Shakduhn, Bustamouse
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Pairing'': Liara/Female Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': The separate lives of E.W. Shepard (Elizabeth Whisper Shepard) and Liara T'Soni: Starting in 2164 when Shepard is 10 and Liara is 87 the story reveals how they grow up to become the individuals that meet on Therum. Their families, friends, lovers and life experiences.
* ''Comments'': One of the finest works of fiction I've ever read. Unlike most romance fics, this one focuses on the personal lives of Shepard and LIara BEFORE they ever met. Each chapter takes turns narrating a segment on Shepard's life, followed by Liara's and so on. What makes this fic stand from so many others, is how much the authoress goes into detail. Ample background is given for Shepard's family, and friends, as well as Liara's family and friends. Each and every single one of the characters, from Shepard's dad, to Shep's mom, to her friends, to her grandparents, is a multi-layered well developed well focused personality. It focuses on the "Colonial" background of shepard (Lived on Mindoir, till it was attacked when she was 16). It has a healthy dose of humor, drama, well written dialog, a small dose of pop culture references, and plenty of shot-outs to future events that end up happening in the first game, it does a great job in fleshing out characters that don't get so much limelight on the actual game (Like Benezia, or Shiala). This fanfic is complete, starts from when Shepard was 10, and ends just before she is selected as Nhilus's disciple as the first human spectre. It has a sequel in the form of ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7714223/1/The_Shepherdess_and_the_Questing_Beast The Shepherdess and the Questing Beast]]'' which covers the events depicted in the first game, and its currently a work in progress. Most definitely a MUST-READ for any fem!shep fan out there.
** Its of particular note how much detail goes into asari Culture in general, with well defined, well researched exposure to their customs, rituals, culture, and more. So if you also happen to be an asari fan, this is the one fic you CANT afford to miss.
** Extremely well written and really had me through almost the entire story. But nearing the end and nearly unbearable in the sequel is how EVERYONE wants a piece of Shepherd, although YMMV. You can't go two sentences without someone talking about how incredible Shepherd is and how badly they want her. That comment aside this fic is VERY good with believable characters that you really fall in love with, and yes plenty of goodies for all the asari fans out there.
** Though being fair, everyone wanting a piece of Shepard is kinda canon in the game itself. Not for nothing, in the list of tropes on the page dedicated for Shepard is "Memetic Sex God/Goddess" due to the overwhelming amount of people that seem to want a piece of Shep, be them gay, straight, male, female, human, or alien. I do have to admit the fic kinda takes it a little bit too far, but its not that much of a stretch from what can be observed in the game.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6475344/1/ Tiger By My Side]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2602204/Introjection Introjection]]
* Recommended by: Cass
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Pairing'': Joker/Shepard
* ''Synopsis'': Commander Shepard isn't one to be confused. However, after the events on the remote colony of Horizon, she has no choice but to accept the things she does not want to face, and have the courage to start life anew.
* ''Comments'': I was a little wary of this one going in, since from the first chapter it seems like the story is going to contain pointless Jacob-bashing for the sake of the pairing and like it might rush the relationship. But I kept going and was so glad that I did because instead I got a great, natural, build-up with all the snark you'd want in a Joker-centric fic, and even Shep's unease with Jacob turns out to have actual character-based reasons. It also stands out among many long-fics I've read set during [=ME2=] for ''not'' spending a lot of time regurgitating conversations and scene-by-scene descriptions of situations we already saw in the game, filling in the spaces between cutscenes instead. And even when it delves into missions that we've all played through Introjection isn't afraid to make (minor) changes to keep things fresh.
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''Fanfic/TheTranslationInBlood'' by [=NothingTame=] [[http://games.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=600087625 (link)]]
* Recommended by: Tropers/StarSword
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' In the ruins of occupied Shanxi, an Alliance soldier and a Turian scout discover that they have more in common than is readily apparent. This leads to a story of a SecretRelationship across species (and government) boundaries and all that entails, stretching from the First Contact War to a little after the Destroy ending of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', and resulting in Commander Shepard having a mentor and supporter she never knew about.
* ''Pairings:'' Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard[[note]]Shepard's mother with the [[MultipleChoicePast Spacer background]][[/note]] and Councilor Sparatus (no, seriously), with [=FemShep=]/Garrus in the background of the later chapters.
* ''Tags:'' NotSafeForWork due to M/F ExplicitContent, InterspeciesRomance, {{Completed|Fic}}
* ''Comments:'' Radm. Shepard x Sparatus would seem to be a CrackPairing at first glance, but not only does the author make it work, it also casts a [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation completely different interpretation]] on Sparatus' actions in the trilogy. It also allows for an absolutely hilarious reaction from [=FemShep=] to the [[MemeticMutation air-quotes thing]].
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''Fanfic/{{Weightless|MassEffect}}'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Alex_Scrye/pseuds/Alex_Scrye Alex_Scrye]]
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Active (Was a dead fic, but the author recently came back on [[Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn AO3]], posting an updated and rewritten version after nearly 10 years away.)
* ''Synopsis'': A wise Krogan once said that the only stories worth telling are those of love, sex, and war. This has all three. A story of provocateurs, confidants, and unhealthy attraction. ''Mass Effect'' Noir. Rated MA. Original content and a touch of AU pre & post [=ME1-ME3=] concerning the secrets, origins, and lives of Jane Shepard and Garrus Vakarian.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': This Noir-fic focusing mainly on Shepard and Garrus relationship with each other while gradually uncovering Shepard's past and her relation to [[spoiler: Kai Leng]] and [[spoiler: Nihlus]]. The writing may turns some people off with its purple prose and metaphors, but once you get past those things, it gives you many new insights for several characters. The author's ability to delivery moods and emotions is quite excellent and you can particularly feels the characters coming to life.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5785582/1/Where-Angels-Fear-To-Tread Where Angels Fear to Tread]] (''completed'').
''Sequel'': [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6015262/1/Closer-to-Home Closer to Home]] (incompleted, maybe a {{Deadfic}} now) by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1838731/WarlordFil WarlordFil]].
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Synopsis'': Death changes things. When Commander Shepard tries to tell her old friend what he means to her, she finds out that her own thoughts about him have changed. [=ME1=] and 2 spoilers.
* ''Pairing(s)'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': The first fic shows what happened off-scene during [=ME2=] to explain why Shepard suddenly asked Garrus to 'blow off steam' with her and why Garrus agreed (as in the author's words "how Shepard went from "my buddy Garrus" in [=ME1=] to "want to ease some tension?" in [=ME2=]"). The second fic was written before [=ME3=] so it didn't follow canon, this story let us see more about the Turian tradition and point of views including an exploration about Garrus's background. Both are very well written with a healthy dose of sweetness and angst with the [=OCs=] are quite believable and interesting. Pity that the sequel stopped right at a cliffhanger.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/893399 Like it's Hallelujah]]'' (complete)
* Recommended by: readerdreamer
* Pairing: Fem!Shep/Liara
* Comments: This is an absolutely beautiful fic, one of my favorites ever. It's short, but every word is a gut-punch.
* Synopsis: ''At the end of the world, a woman walks into a bar. Stop me if you've heard this one before.''
** After the end of [=ME3=] (spoilers for the whole trilogy), Shepard and Liara find each other.
[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/505809 Variations on a Theme, With Tank and Gun Fire]]
* Recommended by: Polaris
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard finds herself reliving the last few years, from finding the beacon on Eden Prime to the battle for Earth. Again, and again, and again. How much can she change? How much should she change?
* ''Pairings'': Fem!Shep/Garrus
* ''Comments'': A GroundhogDayLoop fic where Shepard keeps reliving the events of the games, starting with Eden Prime and ending with the catalyst. The Shepard/Garrus pairing is the backbone of the fic, but Shepard's relationships with the whole crew are important. It's not precisely FixFic, because as Shepard learns there are some outcomes you can't avoid, but everyone is extremely competent and fully in character in a very cathartic way, and some hearbreaks ''are'' avoided in the end.
[[/folder]]
[[WMG: Humor Fics]]
[[folder:Humor Fics]]
''Crackfics, satires, or otherwise humorous stories.''
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7281151/1/Cultural_Differences Cultural Differences]]'' by Mini Boss Majoring
* Recommended by: SithkingZero, @/{{Gamerex27}}
* ''Status'': Complete
* Pairings: M!Shep/Tali, F!Shep/Garrus (story switches between the viewpoints of two different Shepards. Romance is NOT the point of this story.)
* ''Synopsis'': One-shots during [=ME1=] and [=ME2=]. With several species on the Normandy, it was rather obvious that differences between them would be mistaken at times. Continuing.
* Comments: a more humorous look at some of the ways that humanity and the other races differ. Case in point? The first chapter contains an account of Tali tackling Shepard because she thinks he's trying to commit suicide by slitting his throat with a sharp blade. [[spoiler: He was shaving]]. It only gets funnier from there.
** @/{{Gamerex27}}: I was considering adding this to the recs page until I saw someone else did it first. This is a hilarious story, and every chapter gives a few great jokes and hilarious moments. The characters are also IC to a fault: one could be forgiven for thinking that an actual Bioware employee wrote this.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8494289/1/Fifty-Shades-of-Blue Fifty Shades of Blue]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2301265/RaptorAssassin Raptor Assassin]]
* Recommended by: Maymei
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis:'' Sordid tales of eroticism from the darkest corners of the galaxy, hot from the most degenerate pages of Fornax. It's pretty much Caligula, you guys. But with aliens. Hot aliens. That are hot. Rated MA for NSFW xenophilic blasphemies that will forever destroy your headcanon
* ''Comments:'' Destroy your headcanon, indeed. Took this troper 1 week to look and Shiala or Garrus normally again. The way the author [[SelfDeprecation making fun of her own writing style]] (that she uses in her [[Fanfic/WeightlessMassEffect serious fic]]) does help, too.
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''Good Morning Zakera Ward'', a ''Mass Effect'' Fan Podcast
* Recommended by: [=HumanTorch2=]
* Status: Unclear (Somewhere between Dormant and effectively Complete)
* Description: An InUniverse [[InnocentBystanderSeries morning drive-style radio program on the Citadel]] hosted by a human woman and a male turian who are VitriolicBestBuds. They are joined by an asari {{Expy}} of American radio personality [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delilah_(radio_host) Delilah Rene]] who gives relationship advice at their expense, the volus owner of the radio station in question and his ValleyGirl BrattyTeenageDaughter, and gain a salarian LoonyFan / StalkerWithACrush right off the bat. It follows a bunch of civilians reacting to the events of [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]].
* Comments: It starts more or less at the same time as the geth attack on Eden Prime, and has a Female Shepard. Shepard has not been a guest on the show. [[https://gmzw.bandcamp.com/album/good-morning-zakera-ward-season-1 The first season can be listened to in full here]] and the full series as of this writing can be found on Website/YouTube [[https://www.youtube.com/c/GoodMorningZakeraWard via the official channel here]].
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6982725/1/Infiltrait0rN7 Infiltrait0r N7]]'' by ranubis
* Recommended by: ultimatepheer, ace45ray, owlbot
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': We all know that Legion is deadly in combat. Rumors are he also is a gamer. Let's take a look at his interactions on the extranet...
* ''Comments'': Humorous, and the writer nailed the personality of both legion and the typical FPS player.
* The best thing about this short fic is that it perfectly explains why Legion was able to overturn multiple infractions that it cheated, yet paradoxically accepts an infraction for taunting (for a machine, you'd think it would be the other way around) as according to its Shadow Broker file.
* Of particular note is [[spoiler:[=Infiltrait0rN7:=] Do you require assistance?]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6615847/1/ Joker's List]]'' by Made Nightwing
* Recommended by: Ghastdream
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': From the summary: ''The Command Team of the Normandy [=SR2=] are sick of Joker's pranks. They make up a list of 182 things that Joker is no longer allowed to do. Based on Skippy's List, the life and times of a Special Forces Medic.''
* ''Comments'': Perhaps not everything on the list are in character for Joker, but it's hilarious all the same. Additions to the list by commentors can be found in the comments section.
** YMMV: If you've read Skippy's list, there's not much new to see here.
** Agreed. If you like reading "Things Mr. Welsh is no longer allowed to do in RPG's," "The Supervillain Checklist," or or Skippy's list, you'll like it because of that. However, this really isn't in character with Joker, or any of the ME characters, really.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8454795/1/Layin_Down_the_Law Layin' Down the Law]]'' by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4201425/Nuclear-Bacon Nuclear Bacon]]
* Recommended by: [=Mrtaco6=]
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis:'' More Crucible trolling, lots of similarities to the fic above. It's a list of 100 things the crew working on the Crucible is not allowed to do.
* ''Comments:'' A good fic, similar to other rulefics like 100 Things Commander Shepard's Crew will Mutiny Over and such. Lots of focus on geth trolling.
** HilariousInHindsight: Rule 95: [[VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda We do not have the fuel necessary to fly to the Andromeda galaxy, and even if we did, we would disrupt their (presumed) social order. And that's rude.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6356828/1/Mass_Effect_Grunt_Sticks_It_In Mass Effect: Grunt Sticks It In]]'' by Gregg Landsman
* Recommended by: @/{{Liangnui}}, @/USABobcat
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Upon deciding that hanging herself out as the cyborg carrot on a stick for the Asari Sex Vampire was not a good idea, Commander Jane Shepard decides to use her varied team of specialists to set an actual trap. In theory.
* ''Comments'': Similar in tone to Landsman's major work, ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'', this fic is hilarity on par with anything in this category. Special moments include [[spoiler:[[{{Adorkable}} Tali's]] reaction to LSD, [[HitmanWithAHeart Thane]] playing tonsil hockey with Aria, and ''Grunt'' being the bait for Morinth.]] And that's not even ''close'' to the entirety of the fic's comedy.
** @/{{Horngeek}}: The line that killed me was [[spoiler: Morinth not coming out because the ''Illusive Man'' is chatting her up.]]
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7988786/1/Mass_Effect_3_A_Crucible_in_More_Ways_Than_One Mass Effect 3 A Crucible in More Ways Than One]]'' by Sudentor
* Recommended by: Wild Goose, Tropulastic, @/USABobcat, [=Chris54325=], [=GrantMK2=], owlbot
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Forget Commander Shepard and Admiral Anderson; being responsible for organizing the construction of a doomsday device with that many zany races and organizations, Admiral Steven Hackett is clearly the true, most long-suffering hero of ''Mass Effect 3''.
* ''Comments'': A ''very'' crackfic take on the trials of Admiral Hackett as he supervises the construction of the Crucible, deals with being the OnlySaneMan in a fleet of Crazy-cool scientists (and just plain crazy) and tries to keep everyone focused on getting the job done. Highlights include challenging Kasumi to a Touhou duel to keep her from stealing Jacob from Bryn Cole.
** Ahahahaha. I found this to be a very hilarious read. Definitely recommend it.
** Utter nonstop hilarity. Good crackfics are hard enough to find. Good crackfics that still keeps the humor in touch with canon lore is a rarity amongst rarities. There's a reason this is the most recommended ''Franchise/MassEffect'' humor fanfic on TV Tropes.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6039653/1/Mass_Effect_Records_of_an_Irken_Defective Mass Effect: Records of an Irken Defective]]'' by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2245016/KiwiDayDreams KiwiDayDreams]]
* Recommended by: Kalaong and Navllyk
* ''Status'': Dead
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShepard=] is summoned back to Earth to investigate an... oddity. She ends up adding the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain saddest]], [[JerkAss most obnoxious]] [[AlienInvasion alien invader]] in existence to her squad. '''''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim.'''''
* ''Comments'': Start reading and feel something inside your head snap and slide sideways. Creator/JhonenVasquez's insanity meets Creator/BioWare epicness. Even Legion's mind is blown. You get your first hint that not all is comedy when it is discovered that [[spoiler:the Reapers turned the Irkens into the Citadel's Keepers. Then Zim is taken back to Irk only to find that the Reapers wiped out his species. [[TheWoobie Poor Zim]].]]
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''[[http://epantiras.deviantart.com/art/Mess-Perfect-COVER-180557438 Mess Perfect]]'' by Epantiras
* Recommended by: Borkless, Maymei
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': A brilliant parody comic of ''Mass Effect'' poking good natured fun at almost all aspects of the game.
** Now with an in-progress sequel, [[http://epantiras.deviantart.com/gallery/31228611#/d3ktox2 Mess Perfect 2]] (Dead)
* ''Comments'': Very funny, featuring a renegade [=FemShep=] who does actions most of us only wish were in the game.
** Recommendation seconded by {{@/Alynnidalar}}. This fic is ''hilarious!'' Much of it is lampshading the more facepalmy moments of the two games, but there's also the hilarious characterization, humorous side stories (like Shepard's continual hitting on Jack, with painful consequences), and an exaggerated, stylized art style that is perfect for the light-hearted tone of the comic.
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''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/42132465 My Big Fat Quarian Wedding]]'' by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/AndrewJTalon/pseuds/AndrewJTalon AndrewJTalon]]
* Recommended by: [[Tropers/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC DiScOrD tHe LuNaTiC]]
* ''Status'': Completed
* ''Description:'' Post-''Mass Effect 3'', where Male Shepard romanced Tali. Shepard promised to build Tali a house on Rannoch, but she's a little surprised to learn ''he'', the soldier with no training in architecture or construction, intends to do it himself. HilarityEnsues. Later on, Tali enlists the help of several Geth platforms (including one created with input from message board forums) and Kal'Reegar shows up in just his underwear.
* ''Comments:'' This is quite possibly the funniest ''ME'' story I've read in some time. Imagine ''Film/TheMoneyPit'' if instead of a restoration, it was construction, with wacky hijinks and one Geth whacking another over the head with a pipe whenever it does anything wrong (which is frequently).
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''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7750188/1/100-Things-Commander-Shepard-Crew-ll-Mutiny-Over One Hundred Things Commander Shepard's Crew'll Mutiny Over]]'' by The Mad Dragon
* Recommended by: decoy73, rehberre
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': Shepard's crew, having had enough of some of her antics, has come together to compile a list of things she's no longer allowed to do.
* ''Comments'': Incredibly funny, in character, and forbidding all the things we have done, wish we could do, and then some. Also with shout-outs to other games and movies.
** Seconded. This is awesomely hilarious, especially if you've read Skippy's List. Now has a [[Fanfic/OneHundredThingsCommanderShepardsCrewllMutinyOver page]]!
** HilariousInHindsight: [[spoiler:82. We're not making clones of you. The galaxy would shit itself]]. Funny, because it was before [[spoiler: the "Citadel" DLC]] was released.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5761440/1/ Threesome]]'' by Remenants
* Recommended by: Anthurak
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': [=FemShepard=], Garrus and Tali get to know each other better. Not what it sounds like! Honest!
* ''Comments'': A fun little one-shot. Won't spoil anything, but quite funny. Any Garrus or Tali fan will enjoy.
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''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5739975/1/A_Trail_a_Mile_Wide A Trail a Mile Wide]]'' by Heuksal
* Recommended by: Anthurak, @/DoctorWorm, Joysweeper, pcy623, Maymei
* ''Status'': Complete
* ''Synopsis'': After destroying the Collector base and saving the galaxy, the crew of the [=SR2=] Normandy go on shore leave. HilarityEnsues. Pretty much one giant reference to "Music/BannedFromArgo" by Leslie Fish & the Dehorn Crew -- a song about spacers misbehaving so badly as to become [[PersonaNonGrata Personae Non Gratae]].
* ''Comments'': Basically, Shepard is nursing a colossal hangover while Garrus gives her a whole shopping list of the crazy shit she and her crew has done. A fun read.
** Creator/BioWare take note: an interlude like this would be perfect for ''Mass Effect 3''. It would be a great way to develop the characters and a nice breath of fresh air between drama-heavy missions.
*** [[HilariousInHindsight The Citadel DLC sounds (partly) like this.]]
** @/{{Alynnidalar}} would like to second the recommendation for this one. It is ''hilarious!''
*** Hilarious and ''in character'' to boot! The entire piece is so utterly hilarious that I almost didn't realize it, but if you consider both their personalities and the circumstances, everyone's behavior is ''completely believable!'' Seriously, someone get this to Bioware's attention pronto!
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