The Viewless Winds is already the second longest DS9 story on AO3, despite being a work in progress. The story follows Julian Bashir from the moment he wakes up in Internment Camp 371 through until the canon timeline. Expect angst and a highly realistic look at both POW status and the medical field.
2. The Manipulation of Julian Bashir.
ffnet | fanlore | 218k | Gen
The Manipulation of Julian Bashir follows an AU plot after Bashir's enhancements are discovered. He has to fight for the right to practice medicine while espionage drama and past trauma lurk in the background. Angst & Drama.
3. Stubborn Mouths: Humans in Translation.
ao3 | 63k | Slash
Among the second wave of DS9 fans *, it's popular to headcanon Julian Bashir as autistic. This is partially because of his body language and initial social awkwardness, but also because of the genetic enhancements plotline, which serves as a sobering reminder of the problems with "fixing" disabled children. This story also focuses on an autistic Julian Bashir, but with the assumption that an autistic Julian Bashir would act differently than canon Bashir. It's also a lovely Garak/Bashir story.
4. Exile.
ao3 | 9k | Slash
Exile is one of the fandom's must-reads. It's a Garak/Bashir story where an exiled Julian has to make due on Cardassian-occupied Bajor. The writing is phenomenal, both on a technical level and for the pure dramatic irony of exile Bashir.
5. A Different Kind of Monster.
ao3 | 35k | Slash
This series highly deviates from canon. Like the last fic, Julian Bashir has been exiled by the Federation because of his genetic enhancements. But in this fic, Bashir is much younger and transgender. The story itself is written very creatively, with appropriate perspective shifts.
6. Standardized.
ao3 | 1k | Gen
A powerful oneshot featuring Garak, Julian's parents, Julian's beloved bear, and those ever present feelings of inadequacy.
7. you are receding.
ao3 | 5k | Gen
This one's a tearjerker. It's written from Julian's perspective as his genetic enhancements fail, forcing him to watch as his intelligence, memory, and awareness of life slowly, painfully decreases.
8. The Smallest Things.
ao3 | 29k | Slash
An epistolary story in the form of letters between Garak and Julian, post-canon. This is a romance; this is a tragedy. The work is still ongoing, with infrequent updates.
9. Comfortable and Numb.
LJ | 1k | Slash
This is probably my favorite oneshot. It's dark and sickly and starkly written. It's a Bashir/Garak fic, but in all the worst ways possible. The Cardassians have recaptured Deep Space Nine, and Julian is Garak's responsibility.
10. Internment Camp 317.
ff.net | 9k | Gen
There's a few mistakes in this story, including the title, but I would say that the innovation it demonstrates is well worth it. I've seen other Internment Camp fics, but this one has quite an unique dynamic.
11. Oswiecim.
ffnet | ao3 | custom | 184k | Gen
I really, really did not expect to like this fic. How do you write a Holocaust story as a Star Trek time travel story and not make it a completely offensive unreadable travesty?
12. Exiles Together.
ao3 | 22k | Slash
Exiles Together is an alternate universe where Bashir has to go on the run before graduating from Starfleet academy, because he's wanted for the crime of his genetic enhancements. He still ends up on DS9, but under considerably less favorable circumstances.
13. Images in a Broken Mirror.
custom | 10k | Slash
This beauty from Kathyrn Ramage is one of the classic DS9 stories. It's a mirrorverse extravaganza. Bad things happen. The writing is fantastic but beware, the themes are very mature. There's also a sequel, which is just as good, although less focused on Bashir.
14. 3% Hydrocortilene.
ao3 | 0k | Het
If you ever thought there were some insidiously desperate undertones to Ezri and Julian's relationship, this is the fic for you. A tiny character study that doesn't hit a 1k word count but still makes its point beautifully.
15. A Light in the Mirror.
ao3 | 110k | Slash
If you thought the mirrorverse episodes weren't quite horrifying enough, then this series is for you. Established Garak/Bashir.
* Fans who watched the series on Netflix/after the series finished airing.
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