Rec List #2: The SGA List
May. 24th, 2007 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
allyndraIt wasn't all that long ago that Stargate: Atlantis didn't even register on my radar. I'd flipped past it a few times on SciFi, thinking, 'Gee, those are cheesy special effects,' but that was it. Then ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sublimatedangel , who is a sneaky fandom seductress, suggested I read some McShep to see if Rodney would be a good character for a fic I was planning.
Ssssplaaaassshhhh! That's the sound of me falling in over my head and drowning in the gorgeous, wonderful writing this pairing inspires. Even though I come up for air once in a while, I'm drenched in McSheppy thoughts and fics all the time now. The night I got my TV, I went and bought Seasons 1 and 2 and mainlined them. So, here is a short list of a few of the stories I love for SGA. My character of choice is Rodney McKay, and (if you hit your head on the keyboard and missed it) my favorite pairing is McKay/Sheppard.
sublimatedangel , who is a sneaky fandom seductress, suggested I read some McShep to see if Rodney would be a good character for a fic I was planning. Ssssplaaaassshhhh! That's the sound of me falling in over my head and drowning in the gorgeous, wonderful writing this pairing inspires. Even though I come up for air once in a while, I'm drenched in McSheppy thoughts and fics all the time now. The night I got my TV, I went and bought Seasons 1 and 2 and mainlined them. So, here is a short list of a few of the stories I love for SGA. My character of choice is Rodney McKay, and (if you hit your head on the keyboard and missed it) my favorite pairing is McKay/Sheppard.
If you're looking for a great Don't Ask, Don't Tell Fic: Scenes From a Lesser War by amireal is, but tough! I'm reccing this anyway. I love this story so, so much. If solid structure rings your bell, you'll appreciate the care that went into planning and structuring this story to alternate the two timelines. One shows the development of John and Rodney's relationship, and the other shows the effect the removal of the ban on gays in the military has on John, Rodney, and Atlantis. It's got an emotional impact that just resonates for me. The one sentence summary is: When Don't Ask, Don't Tell was lifted, John and Rodney could finally admit that they were together ... they just weren't sure if they wanted to.
If you're looking for a great Earth AU: Four Quarters bytrinityofone .
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Description: Have you ever sat around thinking about what the team would be like if they were a rock band instead of the first contact team for an alien city? No? Well, read this anyway. Then read trin's other Puddlejumper's stories. Then sit around and sigh for the fact that you're never going to get to see them in concert. Like the best AUs, the characters are all recognizable and right, no matter how crack the premise. I love their evolution over the course of time and through the stories - they grow and change like real people going through these experiences would, but always stay our team at heart. The one sentence summary is: Rodney was going to be a scientist, but when he walked into the garage to yell at the band practicing next door, he walked right into a new fate.
There are too may wonderful Earth AUs to only rec one, though, so ... Nantucket 'Verse bydogeared et al.
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Description: These shouldn't be as powerful as they are, considering their length (short) and the simplicity of the premise (John and Rodney living the quiet life on Nantucket) but they are. Great authors likeaesc and sheafrotherdon have jumped in to make this a beautiful 'verse that sticks with me long after I've read the little ficlets that compose it. The one sentence summary is: They met on the beach, two men who should have had nothing in common and ended up sharing everything.
If you're looking for a great John Wakes up Straight Fic: Straight as a Circle bytoomuchplor .
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard (and Sheppard/Heightmeyer)
Description: I'm a big fan of the 'John Sheppard is emotionally screwed up' school of fanfiction, and John in this is so perfectly screwed up. Andtoomuchplor does and excellent job of showing it, through John's actions and assumptions. I love the way he becomes more aware of his feelings and less screwed up over time, without ever losing that slightly damaged edge. The premise sounds funny, but it kinda hurts. The one sentence summary is: When a shaman chants for you, it's supposed to be a reason to smirk about his backwater beliefs, not a reason to suddenly notice breasts. There is another, shorter story in this 'verse, called Tight Quarters
If you're looking for a great Threesome Fic: Alpha Centauri byhth_the_first .
Pairing: Ronon/McKay/Sheppard
Description: I sometimes have trouble buying threesomes. We're so socially conditioned to the idea of Love = two people that I find most threesomes, especially the stable, idyllic threesomes presented in fanfic hard to buy. Alpha Centauri is a threesome I can love. The emotional ties for each leg of the triangle are well developed, with tangled causes and true attraction and sometimes painful consequences. It's an impressive achievement. The one sentence summary is: Is it cheating if your relationship is supposed to be 'open,' and if your significant other is cheating with the same guy?
If you're looking for a great Zelenka and McKay Fic: The Secret Life of Scientists byjulad .
Pairing: McKay/Zelenka
Description: What, you didn't think Rodney spends all his time out with the team, did you? He has this whole life in the science labs of Atlantis. This story shows that life, rounding out a facet of Rodney's life that is central to who he is, but which often gets ignored. The acquaintance and then friendship and then love for Zelenka is so much fun and so in character. The one sentence summary is: Rodney doesn't have much in common with most people, but with Radek he can talk physics and malign the Russians, which ought to be enough to build a relationship on.
amireal is, but tough! I'm reccing this anyway. I love this story so, so much. If solid structure rings your bell, you'll appreciate the care that went into planning and structuring this story to alternate the two timelines. One shows the development of John and Rodney's relationship, and the other shows the effect the removal of the ban on gays in the military has on John, Rodney, and Atlantis. It's got an emotional impact that just resonates for me. The one sentence summary is: When Don't Ask, Don't Tell was lifted, John and Rodney could finally admit that they were together ... they just weren't sure if they wanted to. If you're looking for a great Earth AU: Four Quarters by
trinityofone . Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Description: Have you ever sat around thinking about what the team would be like if they were a rock band instead of the first contact team for an alien city? No? Well, read this anyway. Then read trin's other Puddlejumper's stories. Then sit around and sigh for the fact that you're never going to get to see them in concert. Like the best AUs, the characters are all recognizable and right, no matter how crack the premise. I love their evolution over the course of time and through the stories - they grow and change like real people going through these experiences would, but always stay our team at heart. The one sentence summary is: Rodney was going to be a scientist, but when he walked into the garage to yell at the band practicing next door, he walked right into a new fate.
There are too may wonderful Earth AUs to only rec one, though, so ... Nantucket 'Verse by
dogeared et al. Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Description: These shouldn't be as powerful as they are, considering their length (short) and the simplicity of the premise (John and Rodney living the quiet life on Nantucket) but they are. Great authors like
aesc and sheafrotherdon have jumped in to make this a beautiful 'verse that sticks with me long after I've read the little ficlets that compose it. The one sentence summary is: They met on the beach, two men who should have had nothing in common and ended up sharing everything. If you're looking for a great John Wakes up Straight Fic: Straight as a Circle by
toomuchplor . Pairing: McKay/Sheppard (and Sheppard/Heightmeyer)
Description: I'm a big fan of the 'John Sheppard is emotionally screwed up' school of fanfiction, and John in this is so perfectly screwed up. And
toomuchplor does and excellent job of showing it, through John's actions and assumptions. I love the way he becomes more aware of his feelings and less screwed up over time, without ever losing that slightly damaged edge. The premise sounds funny, but it kinda hurts. The one sentence summary is: When a shaman chants for you, it's supposed to be a reason to smirk about his backwater beliefs, not a reason to suddenly notice breasts. There is another, shorter story in this 'verse, called Tight Quarters If you're looking for a great Threesome Fic: Alpha Centauri by
hth_the_first . Pairing: Ronon/McKay/Sheppard
Description: I sometimes have trouble buying threesomes. We're so socially conditioned to the idea of Love = two people that I find most threesomes, especially the stable, idyllic threesomes presented in fanfic hard to buy. Alpha Centauri is a threesome I can love. The emotional ties for each leg of the triangle are well developed, with tangled causes and true attraction and sometimes painful consequences. It's an impressive achievement. The one sentence summary is: Is it cheating if your relationship is supposed to be 'open,' and if your significant other is cheating with the same guy?
If you're looking for a great Zelenka and McKay Fic: The Secret Life of Scientists by
julad . Pairing: McKay/Zelenka
Description: What, you didn't think Rodney spends all his time out with the team, did you? He has this whole life in the science labs of Atlantis. This story shows that life, rounding out a facet of Rodney's life that is central to who he is, but which often gets ignored. The acquaintance and then friendship and then love for Zelenka is so much fun and so in character. The one sentence summary is: Rodney doesn't have much in common with most people, but with Radek he can talk physics and malign the Russians, which ought to be enough to build a relationship on.