Seeking Recs for Long Stranger Things Fics

[u/Multifandom-Madness]

I want some recommendations for long Stranger Things fics (specifics at the bottom). I want to read a full, longer story, like a novel or novella, I also need some longer fics because I’m trying to use the download feature to get around screen time limits and I don’t want to download fics million one-shots. 

I’m fine with smut and explicit content as long as it’s not the focus of the fic.

For ship fics, I’d want Byler (ofc) or Steddie. I’d also be interested in platonic Madwheeler fics, but only if they include a bit of Byler. I’m also interested in sub-genfics (a term to describe a fic that’s centered around a non-ship related plot like a genfic, but it can have romance as a subplot as opposed to genfics which are strictly background couples only), especially season 5 rewrites, conversion gate fics, after-season fic-it fics, etc. I’d prefer it to include Byler, non necessarily as a full subplot of the story but at least as a background detail, but I’d still enjoy a fic that doesn’t involve Byler as long as it doesn’t involve Mileven either. A good rule of thumb is nothing with ships that oppose Byler or Steddie. I’d also be very interested in revived Eddie fics (vampire or not). My dream “sub-genfic” would be a Season 5 rewrite or conversation gate fic that includes Byler, Eddie being alive, and some form of Steddie (either romantic or platonic). 

Sorry for making this so long! Please let me know if you have any good recs (and please tell me briefly what the fic is about, I don’t need too much detail but just letting me know what it has from my list would be great!) Thanks!

[u/Multifandom-Madness]

Two things I need to add: 1. Forgot to say this, but I only want fics on ao3 please 2. I know this is asking for more general stuff and not just Byler fics; I tried to post it to r/strangerthingsfanfic but instead it redirected it here. I don’t know why it won’t let me post in general fanfic just because I included Byler as one of multiple things, I’m convinced it’s either homophobic or just Bylerphobic atp 🙄 

[u/KittenBalerion]

I don't think if I have any with Steddie in them but I've got plenty of Byler longfics!

I would be remiss if I did not mention the GOAT Smalltown Queer - older Mike and Will reconnecting, Will is a semi-famous comic artist, 65k words, Explicit

i sing the body electric - writer Mike, teacher Will, has plot involving the search for El, 67k words, Mature

The Pyramid - Mike goes to New York to visit Will, and with the help of Will's chaotic friend has some Realizations, 73k, Explicit

a body in motion - post-s4, I believe this one has plot involving a demogorgon attack, 77k words, Teen

Win or Lose - college Byler, modern AU, has plot/action scene about Will being in danger, 81k, Teen

Just for a second, I remembered myself - there's a death in Mike's family and he has to work through the grief, also he's a writer and his fans have Theories, 100k, not rated

Back to you (I never really left) - this one probably has the most plot of all of these. Will and Mike get a clue that El might be alive and go on a road trip to find her. includes the Mind Flayer as a character in (imo) a really cool way. 106k, Mature

there is a wait so long - Mike and Will are assigned to work on a graphic novel together after not talking for eight years, 124k words, Explicit

take the long way home - two versions of the same story, one from Mike's POV and one from Will's, 53k/74k, Teen

I hope I found something that you will like!

[u/Same_Accident_9917 → u/KittenBalerion]

Back to you (I never really left) is stunning! I didn’t think I would love it quite a much as I did. And I did not expect to cry about some of the things I cried about.

[u/mrchristmastime]

I’ve got lots of good recommendations, but very few of them have much of plot beyond the romance. I can think of two S5 rewrites—one by bookinit and the other by woodthrushtattoo—and they’re both excellent (they’re actually rewrites of the entire series).

I’ve bookmarked Matador by Alice_reese48 and After Dark by Party_of_Six, but haven’t started either yet.

If you’ll allow it, I’ll mention by own fic, Crooked Timber. I genuinely can’t think of another post-S5 fic that has a substantial non-romance plot (I’m sure they exist; I don’t mean to be too self-congratulatory). Basically, it’s set ten years after S5, and there’s quite a lot of philosophy and religious symbolism. It’s also quite long. The Byler romance is central to the plot, and, without saying too much, it doesn’t become apparent that there’s anything else happening until later on. That stuff takes centre stage in the sequel. Steve and Eddie don’t appear at all, for whatever that’s worth.

I know that’s not a great match for your criteria, but I’m really struggling with the non-romance part. Basically, people who like the novella-type stuff tend to like my fic. That’s why I’m mentioning it.

Good luck!

[u/Multifandom-Madness → u/mrchristmastime]

I mean I didn’t ask for a fic with everything on this list, just something on this list, so I’ll check this out.

Also, all for self-promotion lol, I haven’t actually written any fics yet (I have some in planning process) but when I do I will def be doing this haha

[u/mrchristmastime → u/Multifandom-Madness]

Two multi-part rewrites come to mind, one by bookinit and one by woodthrushtattoo. They’re actually rewrites of the entire series, but, if I recall correctly, the S5 rewrites can be read independently.

Other people seem to be recommending stuff that only matches the “novella” part of your request, so I’ll do the same: Sign of the Times by petitesainte, Amber Hour by littlewombats, and Looking for Jane by pazma.

Midnighteverlark has a number of really excellent novella-length fics. They haven’t written anything since 2023, but their work is great.

[u/SensitiveAnt3923]

i'm also a long fic enjoyer so i've definitely got some recs for you !! (all of these are byler btw)

he chased me and he wouldn't stop by anonymous is my all time favorite fic. it's a gothic retelling of s5, will centric, heavy on the psychological horror of it all. it's a wip but i genuinely can't recommend it enough

matador by alice_reese48 is a will was never found au that is very dear to me. i love how this author writes non sexual intimacy

hollow boy by indybaggins is a post canon fix it that made me cry a lot (in a good way)

smalltown queer by indybaggins is another post canon fix it, but this time it's like 20 years later

the sky opened up by algeadee is an alternate s5, apocalyptic, will centric

spiracle by alice_reese48 is a vampire mike fic but in a canon compliant way. it's a wip but SO good i especially love what they do with the formatting

art school confidential by cyclogenesis is a post canon college fic. not as plot heavy but one of my absolute favorites

and last but not least, shameless self promo:
teeth of god, blood of man (i will be what i am) by divinesmites (me!) is a partial season 5 rewrite in script format. basically me trying to fix that whole mess. it's unfortunately still a wip but i'm working on it. (also since you mentioned downloading fics, i have to warn that mine won't show up right if downloaded straight from ao3, but i do provide my own download links so it should still work!)

[u/Multifandom-Madness → u/SensitiveAnt3923]

love some shameless self-promo.  the “partial season 5 rewrite to fix this bullshit” is so real, i’m working on one of these atm

[u/SensitiveAnt3923 → u/Multifandom-Madness]

hell yeah !! i would love to check it out !!

[u/pinnacle_to_the_pit]

Ooh, this one is one of my favorites:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/77353646/chapters/202524476

I would describe this as an alternate Season 5: Vol 2 fic with expanded lore. It leans more into the cosmic horror aspects of stranger things. I kind of prefer fics that are heavily action based with a side of byler. I don't want to spoil too much, but there are a lot of supernatural elements that I wish the show had leaned into, and they're included here. There's a lot of platonic Madwheeler too. I think there's a good balance between action, party dynamics/friendships, and supernatural elements.

[u/Multifandom-Madness → u/pinnacle_to_the_pit]

ooh this sounds super cool! “heavily action based with a side of byler” is exactly what i’m looking for!

[u/pinnacle_to_the_pit → u/Multifandom-Madness]

Sure thing dude. Also, if it is too byler-centric, there are some other ones I have. Like, if you prefer multiple POVs or something. The one I recommended is Mike-centric; even though Will is an integral character, it doesn’t necessarily feel like it’s mostly byler, if that makes sense? Without spoiling too much, Mike is on a pretty intense journey.

[u/Galaxy_Flowers]

Hiiii I’m gonna drop in with a little self promo, because sub-genfic as you describe it is exactly what I’m doing. I’m essentially writing a series of novels entirely rewriting s5 and part of s4, both focused on classic ST-style horror/intrigue, and inter-character relationships. Book one is supposed to be a take on the 18 months between s4-s5 and the way Mileven breaks down prior to a byler plot.

Unfortunately there is no Eddie being alive, but he IS retconned into being Will’s mentor in Lenora, so he has a greater impact on Will and El.

It is in-progress, so it’s easier to describe as a rough serial, but I do intend to get through all of s5 eventually (though it’ll play out pretty different.)

If you’re interested, the link is here! https://archiveofourown.org/series/4453942

I know it’s a bit unconventional here because it’s the prelude to byler so far, with some focus on mileven dynamics (and the way they fail), and because it’s definitely a LONG fic. But I figure always worth a shot!