SGA fic/vid recs - main list, Part 2
More recs here: recs part I | recs part III
For the most part Rodney-centric. Recs (both posts combined) are primarily gen, McShep, teamfic... also a handful of Sam/Rodney, Rodney/Teyla, McKeller, Rodney/Todd. Sorted by story length. [Last updated February 14, 2009] [more recent recs in Part 3]
note: Should you happen to comment on a story featuring Jennifer Keller or McKeller... please, for all that's good and holy, don't use that opportunity to share your thoughts on how much you normally dislike those in canon. I only mention it because people keep doing it, and it's really grating for those of us who like the character or pairing on the show, to get comment after comment dissing them. I don't want my recs to contribute to that.
novel length | long/multichapter fics | medium length | short fic/ficlets | comics/cartoons/illustrated fic | vids | meta/recs
novel length:
Indelible by shaenie
McKay/Sheppard; NC-17; 129,000 words (yes, very very long. And so worth it, every word of it!)
Summary: John has a useful gift for compartmentalization: he discards the irrelevant and moves on. Then Rodney makes an ill-considered move on a mission, John steps up to take responsibility for making reparations to the locals, and things take a turn for the complicated as Rodney, an alien society, and an armada of ships make standard operating procedure completely impossible.
This story is epic, one of the very best fics I read last year. Excellent, original plot that makes the most not just of the characters but of Atlantis itself; an intensely deep John POV that's always spot on; an OC who makes a very interesting addition to the cast and blends like she always belonged... simply fantastic.
See No Evil by greyias
Gen; PG-13; Written for Big Bang - Stargate program: Never happened. 89048 words
Summary: In a world without the SGC, John Sheppard never got his second chance and is ushered into early retirement. Nine months later he's working as a test pilot for the world's leading defense contractor on a groundbreaking new plane, and has just been introduced to his difficult new coworker, one Dr. Rodney McKay. However, not everything is as it appears to be. There's something very strange about this plane, John's employer--and Rodney McKay.
This is such an entertaining, well written story, I loved everything about it. It's got an engaging plot, with humor, suspense, spot-on characterization... everything a fic reader's heart desires. This story sure doesn't feel like almost-90,000 words. The setting works really well - it's a very plausible AU-divergence of the 'gateverse, and everybody is totally in character. It's a lot of fun seeing Sheppard and McKay snarking at each other, and finally bonding. A great friendship fic.
The Price That Life Exacts by cathalin
Sheppard/McKay; NC-17; post-season4; ~65,000 words
Summary: When John disappears without a trace during a routine mission, people in a beleaguered Atlantis eventually have to try to move on. Rodney never completely gives up hope of finding John, and though he soldiers on to help Atlantis, a year later he still lives every day with his grief.
John has been missing for a year to the day, when the Lanteans find a baby with his dog tags and Rodney finds himself bonding with her against his will.
So, I'm not an avid reader of kidfic... I used to avoid it before I found this fandom, where I've since seen so many good ones that completely go beyond any cliché... like this one. The child in this story is integral to the plot, not just there to bring the cute. She's more than just John Sheppard's kid, she's a compelling character of her own, and the mystery surrounding her was one of the things that kept my eyes glued to the page.
The story has a great plot as the search for John continues while Atlantis' resources are spread thin. The story belongs to Rodney, who's carrying on and somehow keeping it together in spite of everything... and still John's presence is felt even when he's not around. The character voices are strong, the emotions feel real, and there are no quick and easy fixes. Which makes the read all the more rewarding and satisfying. A beautiful story, every moment of it!
Don Juan McKay and Other Universal Improbabilities by liketheriverrun
gen; teamfic; written for sga_genficathon; s4 spoilers; 48,000 words
Summary: While tracking down a lead to find the Athosians, the team is arrested on a secretive planet. Little do they realize how their plan of escape can change the course of history for the world where they're being held and their escapades will become the stuff of legends.
Why rec'd: This fic has it all... wonderful team interaction and humor, great plot, and a clever structure. The world-building is top-notch... the world of Al'amenda is more than just a colorful backdrop for the action: the place seems vibrant and real, and the original characters are all genuinely interesting in their own right.
Bonus point: the chapter headings, which are hilarious.
Catalysis by chandri (story in one part at WB)
Characters: John, Rodney, Jeannie, Kaleb, Madison, with the Atlantis crew in minor roles.
Pairing: John/Rodney; Rating: R, Spoilers: Through Spoils of War; Category: Angst, h/c; Length: 60,000 words
Summary: After Rodney is held hostage on a trading mission, he starts to slowly fall apart. When he won't admit anything's wrong, he's sent back to Earth to recover, and it's up to John to pick up the pieces.
It's because of this fic that I didn't get to sleep until well after sunrise.
Rodney. PTSD. I literally couldn't put it down. And I'm not even a huge fan of Angst.
Thieves In Atlantis by tipper_green
gen; Ensemble, with emphasis on Beckett, McKay and Sheppard; Season 2; 58,857 words
Summary:Four refugees from a culled world bring some unexpected trouble to Atlantis, and no one avoids the fallout.
A tense mystery fic with well-conceived, three-dimensional bad guys.
Doom! by Kolyaaa!
gen; characters: everybody, and then some; 111,723 words
summary (I'll just quote the author): "This story will keep you on the edge of your seat! It has intrigue, a mystery, suspense and the interlopers in the City of the Ancestors get toppled like bowling-pins. You'll find smashed noses, dangling scientists, drugged out colonels, broken bones, vomiting blenders, plunging jumpers, mashed glasses, bad reception, scary machinery, disappearing floors, SHARKS and an awful lot of water. Some toilets might back up too (not sure if I deleted that part or not). Bad things happen and nearly everyone gets broken, drowned, dislocated, bruised, sliced, dropped or maimed in some hideous way."
In other words, good times all around. ^^ Kolyaaa starts light and frothy, and then cranks the tension up a notch with each chapter until you're indeed at the edge of your seat.
Kolyaaa!'s site: worth checking out for the author's notes alone. 'The Next Event' is also a fun ride. (Think Lewis Carroll on speed)
long/multichapter fics:
Slightly Tarnished Armor by friendshipper
PG; Pairings: Ronon/Jennifer, Rodney/Teyla, John/Elizabeth; 37,000 words
Summary: Hear ye, hear ye! Hark to the tale of the heroic and marginally competent Sir Rodney of McKay, the Lady Guinevere the healer, her betrothed King Ronon Pendragon, and sundry other Heroes and Villains, in a tale of Classic Adventure, Tumultuous Peril, Base Treachery, Mistaken Identity, Heroes in Disguise and other Trappings of a Romantic Sort.
author's notes: It should be obvious from reading the summary and warnings, but when it comes to historical accuracy, this is TOTAL CRACK, and while it was originally conceived as a sort of King Arthur AU, it no longer bears much resemblance to the Arthur legend, either. This is silly pseudo-medieval fantasy that has about as much to do with the actual Middle Ages as Monty Python's Holy Grail.
I found this fic way funnier and more entertaining than the Python movie. Friendshipper takes every cliché in the book and spins them into a fun tale. I really enjoyed the plot, and I loved the way she transferred the characters into the (pseudo)medieval setting.
Snippet: Rodney hated the wilderness in general. It was full of wild beasts, which he would be expected to kill, and ruffians, which he would be expected to fight, and flowers, which he was allergic to. He hadn't thought that anything could make him hate the wild lands more than he already did. Come to find out, though, he'd found something that did the trick: riding through the woods on a recalcitrant, ancient warhorse that just wanted to find a nice patch of sun and take a nap, surrounded by all of Kell's most vulgar and violent knights and their even more loutish squires, riding off to kill some poor bastard who was going to be outnumbered thirty to one.
The Hard Prayer by rheanna27
McShep; PG-13, AU, apocafic, 30,500 words
Summary: A year after the end of the world, John meets another survivor.
I don't even know how to describe this fic without bursting into superlatives. Rheanna paints a post-apocalyptic landscape so bleak and real... you can't help but get pulled in. The plot is great, the prose clear and evocative. And her characterization of John and Rodney is amazing... both damaged, traumatized, after a year of solitude. And if this scenario sounds depressing - this story is really not! It is the right balance of darker and lighter moments, and just a really gripping read.
Spirits of the Dead by kodiak_bear
Gen; PG-13; Characters: Sheppard, team, Lorne, OCs; h/c; Spoilers through S5 Whispers; 28,000 + words
Good plotfic with a fascinating look into Pegasus culture, one the show doesn't offer: the Hoffan plague rages through the galaxy, and the people hit by it do what they must to survive.
Rewind, Reboot, Restore by rheanna27
McShep; PG with implied slash; Set mid season 4; small spoilers for 'Missing'; 24k words
Summary: Liking Rodney McKay was very similar to how Douglas Adams had described flying: the trick was to throw yourself at him and miss.
"Oh, thank you for that blindingly obvious diagnosis, Doctor Perky. I've forgotten the last seven years of my life and you think I have amnesia. Tell me, if I came to you without my head, how long would it take you to tell me I'd been decapitated?"
Due to a snafu with Ancient technology Rodney gets reverted to the charming fellow we saw in SG-1's "48 hours" -- and John gets confronted with a part of Rodney's personality he'd rather not have seen. Amazing character piece with great plot and pitch-perfect characterization.
Night Ops by friendshipper
light McKay/Keller, Sheppard; PG-13; action, h/c; season 4; 17,500 words
Summary: Colonel Sheppard has been in the hands of the Nolari for just over six hours. They are not known for treating their prisoners well. When a rescue mission goes FUBAR, McKay and Keller find themselves racing a ticking clock to save Sheppard's life on a lethal, frozen world.
A fun, suspenseful action-adventure story, in which Rodney and Jennifer get thrown into a combat situation and have to team up and save the day. I love the vivid descriptions, the Keller POV, and the nice, tingly UST between our two reluctant heroes.
I'm really delighted that I lucked out and won Sholio in the auction - I've had a soft spot for Rodney/Jennifer ever since 'Trio', be it friendship or ship, and that pairing is still somewhat the red-headed stepchild of fandom. I've been looking for stories just like this. This would make a great episode, too.
The True Story of When They Went A-Wandering by auburnnothenna
gen; Rating: R; humor; Spoilers; through 5x13 Inquisition; ~16,290 words
Summary: It's just like a mission, only not.
Funniest fic I've read in a while; I had a great time reading it. This is the tale of our intrepid team following the honored Pegasus tradition of The Wandering (in order to improve their image in the galaxy). Naturally they handle that task with great grace and dignity... um.
The Pirate's Prisoner by rhymer23
Gen; AU; PG-13; 42,000 words, plus ten illustrations
Characters: Team, with a bit of Lorne, Carson and Kolya
Summary: Rodney McKay hadn't realised he was being abducted by pirates at first. (If he had, he would, of course, have resisted with proud defiance, willing to die rather than submit.) Now he finds himself on the ship of the second most notorious pirate in the Caribbees, immured in a dank prison (well, a fairly spacious cabin, but that's not the point), forced to prostitute his intellect in the service of evil. And there's a savage on board, and a woman - an actual woman, in man's clothes, would you believe? Will Rodney ever escape and make it back to London to receive the Royal Academy Fellowship that is surely awaiting him?
Why rec'd:Sometimes a fic is so good that I sit, fingers hovering over the keyboard, thinking how the hell do I do I come up with a rec that does this story justice when I just want to blurt out, "This is so AWESOME, flist, go read STAT one!eleven"
Anyhoo... if you like suspenseful genfic with a fine sense of humor, I can't rec this one enough (and I'm saying that as someone who, until very recently, hasn't even read AU). It's fun to see the characters in this setting... particularly to see Sheppard's rogue band of misfits through Rodney's eyes (I always dig a well-done outsider POV). Excellent worldbuilding: Rhymer did a ton of research for this fic, and it shows in the historical accuracy and the detail of the writing. You get an authentic feel of the era.
To round it off, the fic comes with a chock ful of bonus material: an addendum with songs and historical documents and some very neat illustrations of Pirate Sheppard and his merry band.
As someone who didn't use to see the appeal of AU fic, I was surprised how well this story works on both levels, both as an SGA fic and a riveting pirate tale. The characters feel so real, my first impulse was to wish for fic written in this 'verse.
And now there's a sequel:
The Price of a Pardon
gen; team; 49,000 words, plus drawings, maps and photos
summary: Rodney McKay wasn't sure what he expected to happen when he decided to throw his lot in with the enigmatic Captain Sheppard and his alarming crew, but it definitely wasn't near-constant brushes with almost certain doom. The angry mobs are a worry, too, as is the espionage, the last-minute rescues, the alarming quantities of crime, the dastardly rogues bent on killing them, the scheming enemies, the swooning maidens and the secret tunnels. Will Rodney and his new companions survive to get their happy ending?
This is a wonderful story, a great blend of humor, drama, and suspense, rounded off with accurately researched historical detail that draws you into this 'verse. It makes for a very satisfying sequel as well... it adds new dimension to all of the characters, the plot is original, and seamlessly ties this story to the first one. Fantastic voices - those guys sound just like themselves, if they lived in the 18th century - and the choice of POV works extremely well, too. This fic is a real treat (I'm still smiling as I type this).
Make sure you read 'The Pirate's Prisoner' first, if you haven't already, as the sequel heavily builds on the first part.
Teenage Kicks by rheanna27
McShep; fairly tame R; 27,000 words
Spoilers: Set mid season 4; small spoilers for 'Outcast'
Summary: It's not about changing the past. It's about letting the past change you.
Insta-rec!
"Transporting matter over such huge a distance in time and space like this takes vast amounts of energy. Projecting a consciousness back in time is more energy efficient by several magnitudes. It's time travel on a budget, and if I hadn't been turned into a teenager I'd take a moment to be impressed."
Figurative Hell And Literal High Water by tipper_green
Characters: Keller, Rodney, Teyla, Sheppard, Ronon
Spoilers: Missing (this takes place after Missing but before This Mortal Coil).
gen (with a teensy hint of Rodney/Jennifer UST); PG; 36,000 words; written for sga_genficathon
Summary: Rodney's desperate to save his team, and Keller's just trying to keep up, on a planet where hurricanes can last for days.
why rec'd: A descriptive and action-filled adventure story with a fantastic Keller POV that does the character justice. She gets a chance to shine in this one, with nature throwing obstacle after obstacle at them, and Sheppard's team lying injured (really well-written h/c, too). It's much fun to see Rodney and Jennifer play off each other.
This fic put me in a happy mood and left me with a yen for more Keller-centric fic.
medium length:
Blue Colorado Skies by xparrot
gen; PG; team; whump (Rodney); AU; ~11,400 words
Rodney had guessed John Smith would be trouble the day he rode into town and tramped into his shop, yellow with dust and stinking of horse and sweat, and asked if he was McKay. Rodney had looked at the man's worn boots, his shabby black Stetson, and the Colt holstered at his side, and known no good could come of this.
Squee-worthy, original, plotty steampunk AU: Rodney is a brilliant (duh) inventor, John the heir of the evil Sheppard Works. I love the background setting, and the way the characters within it stay so utterly themselves.
Soldiering On by pansychubb
gen; Rating: T; Spoilers: Set in S5; Characters: Rodney & team; 10,847 words
It's up to Rodney to save the day. Well-written team adventure with just the right amount of h/c.
Unmanifest Destiny by vain_glorious
team; Rating: PG-13; 8,261 words
Summary: Following the events of 5X01, Team Sheppard goes to Earth and takes a roadtrip across the US.
This fic blew me away. If the story feels somehow off... don't let that deter you; the author knows what she's doing. This is not your average fluffy roadtrip fic... this story carries a punch, and I couldn't shake it off easily afterwards. I had to re-read it on the same evening, which I rarely do.
Or Something Like It by semivowel
McKay/Sheppard; R; ~7700 words
It turns out Sheppard’s physically unharmed, just doped out of his mind on Pegasus Galaxy truth serum. And since the rescue party arrives 35 minutes later, Rodney down-grades the entire experience to a mild food-poisoning equivalence class.
Semivowel's oversharing Sheppard is hilarious, and completely in character. Great character voices. A pleasure to read.
Check out her mckay/sheppard tag; all her fic is great reading.
The Awful Truth by blade_girl
Humor; PG; Characters: McKay, Sheppard; 6,421 words
Summary: Always follow your instincts…unless your instincts are morons.
Hysterical first-time, bad!sex fic. And contrary to what that sounds like, it's actually gen. You'll just have to read and see.
“That was… that was good, wasn’t it?” Sheppard was asking. “I mean, before you hit your head.”
Gravity by rheanna27
gen with a touch of John/Rodney; PG; 7,000 words
Spoilers: Big ones for The Last Man. Really, it won't even make sense if you haven't seen the ep.
Summary: Seventeen years, eight months and nine days after Sheppard closed himself into the stasis chamber, Rodney has an idea.
Why rec'd: This is a sci-fi story in the true sense, a fascinating exploration of the setup we were left with in The Last Man. Rheanna does a great job evoking a feeling of the virtual space it's set in. And in spite of the subject matter, there's a warmth to this story... the tone is melancholy, with lots of humor and snark (we're talking about Sheppard and McKay here, and the guys are very much in character, AI or not). It reads a little like poetry, for lack of a better word.
Games of Chance by xparrot
PG-13; Characters: Rodney, Sheppard, Team, etc.; Season 4 cast/spoilers; ~12,000 words
Summary: Sheppard's got one chance, and Rodney is going to find it, no matter what.
For the 'Second Verse' challenge at flashfic: John gets taken by the Wraith, and Rodney hooks himself up to a modified Ancient device so he can go through every impossible rescue scenario in order to find the possible one. I love premise and execution both.
Old Soldiers Die Hard by friendshipper
gen, Rating: T; spoilers: S3; 8500 words
Summary: The old guy in Room 30B was about the most disagreeable human being that the nurses had ever met. But he did get visitors -- including a retired Air Force Colonel.
This is a story I'd put off reading for a while because from the summary and subject matter I'd feared it would be depressing... which, okay, it turned out to be most definitely not. Wonderful story, with an interesting and engaging OC. I really like the outsider POV.A Rational Universe by xparrot
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; 6943 words
Summary: "You're a lot more encouraging than my last friendly hallucination," Rodney says.
Fascinating story, really gripping. John and the other Lanteans need his command codes, but Rodney knows he can't trust anyone, least of all himself.
Hero for a New Age by smittywing
gen; PG; characters: Ronon Dex, Rodney McKay, Atlantis cast; 11,600 words
Terrific friendship fic with spot-on voices. Ronon and Rodney bonding over Superhero comics: While Ronon gets caught up on Batman & Co, we in turn get to see glimpses of Satedan culture and tales. I usually don't have that much interest in superhero lore but it's the absolutely perfect angle here!
post traumatic stress syndrome without the 'post' by americanleaguer
McKay/Todd [Don't look at me like that. Just trust me on this, okay?]; R; 12,250 words; written for sga_flashfic's ancient history challenge
Author's Notes: Guys, I am so sorry. I don't even know. I think I wanted to write this story anyways and the challenge just gave me a framework in which to do it. I feel obligated to say that despite the pairing and general amount of Todd in this fic, it is not crack!fic. I also feel obligated to say that there's a load of McSheppy friendship going on here, so it's not like it's all Wraith all the time.
With the way Todd and McKay play off each other when they do their science thing, it's strange there's not more fic about them. And the author totally makes this whacked-out pairing work. Highly entertaining read.
short fic/ficlets:
Rewind by lizzypaul
McKay/Sheppard; PG13; Spoilers: Through "Quarantine"; 4800 words
Summary: Rodney is stuck in an endless Monday.
I want to do a list of time-loop fics at some point (my favorite trope, and here's a fandom where there's not just one but at least a dozen and they're all good... how can you beat that?!) This story is fun, well-written with an interesting character angle.
Five Stories Jeannie Miller Tells by argosy
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; ~4,300 words
Summary: She hopes they will tell all the stories of Atlantis.
A lovely, bittersweet story, beautifully written and structured.
Breaking Up in Three Easy Clichés by xparrot
McKay/Keller; PG; spoilers for "The Last Man" and "The Shrine"; ~3,300 words
Xparrot says in the story notes that she doesn't like this pairing much and wrote this fic to come to terms with it; you couldn't tell from reading the story. As someone who does like the pairing, I'll be thrilled if the canon writers can pull off writing a relationship this believable and respectful to the characters.
You Only Ever Lose One
McShep; AU (a lot); crack (the strong kind); 3,000 words
Summary: John and Rodney are socks. Yes, socks.
I've been looking for this fic everywhere, luckily it just came up on storyfinders: The one where they're socks. That really says it all. *cuddles fandom*
Unexpected Hazards of the Best Friend Relationship by argosy
McKay/Keller, McKay/Sheppard; PG; generally spoilery for Brain Storm; 2750 words
Summary: When Rodney and Jennifer break up, John really wants to be there for his friend.
I've been looking for stories that deal with the John/Rodney/Jennifer triangle while treating all three characters with respect, and this story does just that. Very believable take on the relationships.
But If You Try Sometimes (you just might find) by sardonicsmiley
Rodney/Jennifer; PG; Post ep for The Shrine; 1,800 words
Summary: “What about you and John? Rodney, I’d have to be blind not to-not to-you know.”
Quite amazing character/relationship piece that managed to help me sort out my feelings after watching the episode. I adopted her take on it into my personal canon. The way she writes the tangled emotions and relationships feels absolutely believable.
Story of My Life by busaikko
Rodney/Jennifer; PG; Written for artword; Spoilers through The Shrine; 1,685 words
Author's summary: Bravery doesn't always come in action-hero packaging. (Or, my take on the end of S5 *cue evil laughter*)
Somewhere in there I can see an epic fic looming, and I'd love to read that... but even these snapshots are intriguing and fun to read.
Heaven for Beginners by wojelah
McKay/Keller; R; Spoilers: for Brain Storm (5x16); ~1,200 words
Summary: "They've had a lot of "dates" - for Jennifer, the conferences are really pretty much old hat these days, and she considers herself something of an expert in the peculiar sociology of astrophysicists."
Lovesick (No, Really) by pansychubb (aka LilRicki)
gen; Rating: PG13; ~500 words
Prompt: Write a story featuring the team in which ONLY dialogue is used.
Pansychubb has a knack for writing entertaining whump... :o)
Girl Talk by pansychubb
G; Teyla & Amelia; minor spoiler for 5x14 The Prodigal; 424 words
Sparring!fic with spot-on voices. Now I have a craving for more Teyla-Amelia bonding fic.
linabean wrote the thing that's been missing from this year: sgastoryfinders, the poem
Here's a tiny snippet:
They were either in an established relationship, or dancing around one,
I just remember
alot of tension
Maybe
some angst.
The important thing is: they have sex
There's more, much more. And it's a thing of beauty.
The Guy Who Came in From the Cold by 01100100
gen with a touch of het; PG-13; Imaginary!Carter/McKay + McKay/Markov; 4,933 words
Spoilers: Stargate SG-1's 48 Hours.
Summary:: Rodney is sent to Siberia where he learns to thaw out a little.
“This is it?” he complains, getting nothing but an indifferent and grim look from a man of indeterminate and completely irrelevant military rank as he turns away. “Oh, well, thank you. I always wondered what living in the gulag would be like.”
I adore this story! A wonderful fic about Rodney coming to terms with his exile in Siberia: funny, insightful... and effortlessly reconciling that jerk from 48 Hours with our McKay.
Five Authors Who Didn't Write Stargate Atlantis by rhymer23
gen; PG; Characters: Team, plus others; Words: 3000
Summary: Four authors who (fortunately for them) didn't write Stargate Atlantis, and one who (fortunately for Atlantis) didn't write it, either.
Our characters end up in various fictional universes where they don't fit in all too well. Brilliant pastiche; she manages to emulate the various authors's style just perfectly, and on top of that each story is hilarious. Brother to the Executioner by xparrot
Sheppard POV; Miller's Crossing tag, therefore huge spoilers for that episode; 1,010 words
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics postulates an infinity of universes, an ever-growing tree of possibilities, wherein somewhere, every choice is made; every potential outcome of any decision is realized, every possible option taken, somewhere.
Nowhere in that infinity is the universe where John Sheppard willingly steps back and allows Rodney McKay to walk into the Wraith's embrace.
Five Things John Can't Help But Notice by xparrot
John/Rodney, PG, 600 words (5 drabbles + one for the road)
Author's Notes: So I've been watching various sources of Hewlett-y goodness, and it's occurred to me that I might have a wee little crush on David Hewlett. But that's okay, because John Sheppard has a huge massive one on Rodney McKay.
This is adorable and just so spot-on, and really beautifully written - she conveys a whole lot in just 600 words. And, the last line is perfect.
Ashna and Eshon by sheafrotherdon
Rodney/Teyla; PG; ~2100 words
For sticksandsnark, prompt: Teyla. Queen.
Summary: He realized, waking up one morning to blink at the stack of books by his bed, that he'd never said hello to Teyla in her own language, never sung a made-up song to Kagaan with words the boy would one day claim as his own.
Rodney learns Athosian for Teyla. Beautiful story, and an intriguing look at the linguistics of the gate'verse.
Textual translation software was standard on every Lantean machine, and he fed words from his book into the laptop, sent them through a set of algorithms he'd tweaked once or twice, waited for the English meanings to pop up on his screen. Ashna, Devaat, Mehnit, Eshon, Emar, G'tare, Tasaan, Ushf'd - the words sprang up in Athosian and English; queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen. Rodney frowned and ran the command again - queen, queen; the result was the same.
This Is the Song that Goes Like This by argosy
Rodney/Teyla; PG; 3,200 words
For sticksandsnark, prompt: culture shock
Summary: And that was how Rodney got sucked against his will into the Day of Renewal celebration, or--as Rodney liked to think of it--Teyla's Athosian Extravaganza.
Adorable, funny... perfect ending.
Grossly oversimplified by americanleaguer
McShep; R; 3,926 words; written for the Must Be Dreaming challenge at sga_flashfic
Author's notes: Other people are using this challenge to write thought-provoking, emotional examinations of the human psyche and the nature of dreaming. This is not one of those fics.
"It's like a holodeck for dreams!" Sheppard says, all kinds of pleased with himself.
McKay takes a half-second to close his eyes and breathe deeply. "I really hate you, you know that?"
"Just because you need a load of big words to say the same damn thing..."
"Holodeck for dreams, that is such a gross oversimplification, I can't even... what are you doing, don't touch that!"
comics/cartoons/illustrated fic:
Escape Velocity by dogeared and aesc (a comic/collage in 5 pages from Vegas!verse)
PG; John-centric gen; spoilers for 5x19 Vegas
Gorgeous comic that puts a new spin on the episode.
The Pirate's Prisoner by rhymer23
vids:
Open Secrets of the Pegasus Galaxy by yevgenie (Song: Leonard Cohen)
gen; PG; whole cast; Seasons: 1-4; Length: 4:04
Summary: That's how it goes, everybody knows.
author's notes: This is my love letter to Stargate Atlantis. It is also a letter about how Stargate: Atlantis drives me fucking crazy. [waves hands in explanation]
Brilliant vid about life and death in Pegasus. It's a meta-essay in vid form, and it made me fall in love with the show all over again.
Sweet Apocalypse by zap99nad (Artist: Moby)
Action/Drama, AU; can be read as gen or McShep; Characters: Sheppard, McKay, supporting characters: Kolya, Elizabeth, Carson, Wraith
Summary: Kolya is a bounty hunter working for the Wraith in exchange for a steady supply of Enzymes. John's next on the list. This is what happened...
Constructed Reality, very convincingly done. A cool, fun, atmosperic vid with great storytelling and pacing. I enjoyed watching it a lot; it was much like reading fic.
Be a Rockstar by chayiana (scroll down to the vid)
Music: Rockstar by Nickelback; Genre: Humor; Spoilers up to The Kindred
Characters: Lorne, Team, Todd (*G*)
So much fun... a witty idea at every turn, and images that fit the music perfectly (not necessarily in ways you'd expect).
What is Eternal? by gnine
Song: from Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Beethoven's Last Night
Character: Rodney
Spoilers: Big whoopin' spoilers for 'The Last Man'; the vid won't make as much sense if you haven't seen the episode.
(alternative lyrics link, as the one in the post stopped working for me)
Such a beautiful interplay of lyrics and clips; the song is *perfect* for Rodney. Specifially, the Rodney we see in TLM. More than a simple retelling of The Last Man, this vid adds a whole other dimension to it. Hard to describe... best watch!
Grace Kelly by dkwilliams (diana@slashcity.com)
Pairing: McShep (could be friendship), Sheppard/Various Women; Format & Size: 30MB DIVX
Why don't you like me, why don't you like me?!" wonders Rodney. Heh. Another one of my favorite Atlantis vids... funny and charming. I really like that song, too.
Too Good To Be True by blithesea
Rodney/Ronon pining
very funny vid, the editing is brilliant. Some of the edits I only realized on second viewing (during the first viewing my brain was scratching its metaphorical head, going waitaminute...). Watch it, you'll see what I mean.
Atlantis opening credits, House Style
meta/recs:
(older recs in Part I)
For the most part Rodney-centric. Recs (both posts combined) are primarily gen, McShep, teamfic... also a handful of Sam/Rodney, Rodney/Teyla, McKeller, Rodney/Todd. Sorted by story length. [Last updated February 14, 2009] [more recent recs in Part 3]
note: Should you happen to comment on a story featuring Jennifer Keller or McKeller... please, for all that's good and holy, don't use that opportunity to share your thoughts on how much you normally dislike those in canon. I only mention it because people keep doing it, and it's really grating for those of us who like the character or pairing on the show, to get comment after comment dissing them. I don't want my recs to contribute to that.
novel length | long/multichapter fics | medium length | short fic/ficlets | comics/cartoons/illustrated fic | vids | meta/recs
novel length:
Indelible by shaenie
McKay/Sheppard; NC-17; 129,000 words (yes, very very long. And so worth it, every word of it!)
Summary: John has a useful gift for compartmentalization: he discards the irrelevant and moves on. Then Rodney makes an ill-considered move on a mission, John steps up to take responsibility for making reparations to the locals, and things take a turn for the complicated as Rodney, an alien society, and an armada of ships make standard operating procedure completely impossible.
This story is epic, one of the very best fics I read last year. Excellent, original plot that makes the most not just of the characters but of Atlantis itself; an intensely deep John POV that's always spot on; an OC who makes a very interesting addition to the cast and blends like she always belonged... simply fantastic.
See No Evil by greyias
Gen; PG-13; Written for Big Bang - Stargate program: Never happened. 89048 words
Summary: In a world without the SGC, John Sheppard never got his second chance and is ushered into early retirement. Nine months later he's working as a test pilot for the world's leading defense contractor on a groundbreaking new plane, and has just been introduced to his difficult new coworker, one Dr. Rodney McKay. However, not everything is as it appears to be. There's something very strange about this plane, John's employer--and Rodney McKay.
This is such an entertaining, well written story, I loved everything about it. It's got an engaging plot, with humor, suspense, spot-on characterization... everything a fic reader's heart desires. This story sure doesn't feel like almost-90,000 words. The setting works really well - it's a very plausible AU-divergence of the 'gateverse, and everybody is totally in character. It's a lot of fun seeing Sheppard and McKay snarking at each other, and finally bonding. A great friendship fic.
The Price That Life Exacts by cathalin
Sheppard/McKay; NC-17; post-season4; ~65,000 words
Summary: When John disappears without a trace during a routine mission, people in a beleaguered Atlantis eventually have to try to move on. Rodney never completely gives up hope of finding John, and though he soldiers on to help Atlantis, a year later he still lives every day with his grief.
John has been missing for a year to the day, when the Lanteans find a baby with his dog tags and Rodney finds himself bonding with her against his will.
So, I'm not an avid reader of kidfic... I used to avoid it before I found this fandom, where I've since seen so many good ones that completely go beyond any cliché... like this one. The child in this story is integral to the plot, not just there to bring the cute. She's more than just John Sheppard's kid, she's a compelling character of her own, and the mystery surrounding her was one of the things that kept my eyes glued to the page.
The story has a great plot as the search for John continues while Atlantis' resources are spread thin. The story belongs to Rodney, who's carrying on and somehow keeping it together in spite of everything... and still John's presence is felt even when he's not around. The character voices are strong, the emotions feel real, and there are no quick and easy fixes. Which makes the read all the more rewarding and satisfying. A beautiful story, every moment of it!
Don Juan McKay and Other Universal Improbabilities by liketheriverrun
gen; teamfic; written for sga_genficathon; s4 spoilers; 48,000 words
Summary: While tracking down a lead to find the Athosians, the team is arrested on a secretive planet. Little do they realize how their plan of escape can change the course of history for the world where they're being held and their escapades will become the stuff of legends.
Why rec'd: This fic has it all... wonderful team interaction and humor, great plot, and a clever structure. The world-building is top-notch... the world of Al'amenda is more than just a colorful backdrop for the action: the place seems vibrant and real, and the original characters are all genuinely interesting in their own right.
Bonus point: the chapter headings, which are hilarious.
Catalysis by chandri (story in one part at WB)
Characters: John, Rodney, Jeannie, Kaleb, Madison, with the Atlantis crew in minor roles.
Pairing: John/Rodney; Rating: R, Spoilers: Through Spoils of War; Category: Angst, h/c; Length: 60,000 words
Summary: After Rodney is held hostage on a trading mission, he starts to slowly fall apart. When he won't admit anything's wrong, he's sent back to Earth to recover, and it's up to John to pick up the pieces.
It's because of this fic that I didn't get to sleep until well after sunrise.
Rodney. PTSD. I literally couldn't put it down. And I'm not even a huge fan of Angst.
Thieves In Atlantis by tipper_green
gen; Ensemble, with emphasis on Beckett, McKay and Sheppard; Season 2; 58,857 words
Summary:Four refugees from a culled world bring some unexpected trouble to Atlantis, and no one avoids the fallout.
A tense mystery fic with well-conceived, three-dimensional bad guys.
Doom! by Kolyaaa!
gen; characters: everybody, and then some; 111,723 words
summary (I'll just quote the author): "This story will keep you on the edge of your seat! It has intrigue, a mystery, suspense and the interlopers in the City of the Ancestors get toppled like bowling-pins. You'll find smashed noses, dangling scientists, drugged out colonels, broken bones, vomiting blenders, plunging jumpers, mashed glasses, bad reception, scary machinery, disappearing floors, SHARKS and an awful lot of water. Some toilets might back up too (not sure if I deleted that part or not). Bad things happen and nearly everyone gets broken, drowned, dislocated, bruised, sliced, dropped or maimed in some hideous way."
In other words, good times all around. ^^ Kolyaaa starts light and frothy, and then cranks the tension up a notch with each chapter until you're indeed at the edge of your seat.
Kolyaaa!'s site: worth checking out for the author's notes alone. 'The Next Event' is also a fun ride. (Think Lewis Carroll on speed)
long/multichapter fics:
Slightly Tarnished Armor by friendshipper
PG; Pairings: Ronon/Jennifer, Rodney/Teyla, John/Elizabeth; 37,000 words
Summary: Hear ye, hear ye! Hark to the tale of the heroic and marginally competent Sir Rodney of McKay, the Lady Guinevere the healer, her betrothed King Ronon Pendragon, and sundry other Heroes and Villains, in a tale of Classic Adventure, Tumultuous Peril, Base Treachery, Mistaken Identity, Heroes in Disguise and other Trappings of a Romantic Sort.
author's notes: It should be obvious from reading the summary and warnings, but when it comes to historical accuracy, this is TOTAL CRACK, and while it was originally conceived as a sort of King Arthur AU, it no longer bears much resemblance to the Arthur legend, either. This is silly pseudo-medieval fantasy that has about as much to do with the actual Middle Ages as Monty Python's Holy Grail.
I found this fic way funnier and more entertaining than the Python movie. Friendshipper takes every cliché in the book and spins them into a fun tale. I really enjoyed the plot, and I loved the way she transferred the characters into the (pseudo)medieval setting.
Snippet: Rodney hated the wilderness in general. It was full of wild beasts, which he would be expected to kill, and ruffians, which he would be expected to fight, and flowers, which he was allergic to. He hadn't thought that anything could make him hate the wild lands more than he already did. Come to find out, though, he'd found something that did the trick: riding through the woods on a recalcitrant, ancient warhorse that just wanted to find a nice patch of sun and take a nap, surrounded by all of Kell's most vulgar and violent knights and their even more loutish squires, riding off to kill some poor bastard who was going to be outnumbered thirty to one.
The Hard Prayer by rheanna27
McShep; PG-13, AU, apocafic, 30,500 words
Summary: A year after the end of the world, John meets another survivor.
I don't even know how to describe this fic without bursting into superlatives. Rheanna paints a post-apocalyptic landscape so bleak and real... you can't help but get pulled in. The plot is great, the prose clear and evocative. And her characterization of John and Rodney is amazing... both damaged, traumatized, after a year of solitude. And if this scenario sounds depressing - this story is really not! It is the right balance of darker and lighter moments, and just a really gripping read.
Spirits of the Dead by kodiak_bear
Gen; PG-13; Characters: Sheppard, team, Lorne, OCs; h/c; Spoilers through S5 Whispers; 28,000 + words
Good plotfic with a fascinating look into Pegasus culture, one the show doesn't offer: the Hoffan plague rages through the galaxy, and the people hit by it do what they must to survive.
Rewind, Reboot, Restore by rheanna27
McShep; PG with implied slash; Set mid season 4; small spoilers for 'Missing'; 24k words
Summary: Liking Rodney McKay was very similar to how Douglas Adams had described flying: the trick was to throw yourself at him and miss.
"Oh, thank you for that blindingly obvious diagnosis, Doctor Perky. I've forgotten the last seven years of my life and you think I have amnesia. Tell me, if I came to you without my head, how long would it take you to tell me I'd been decapitated?"
Due to a snafu with Ancient technology Rodney gets reverted to the charming fellow we saw in SG-1's "48 hours" -- and John gets confronted with a part of Rodney's personality he'd rather not have seen. Amazing character piece with great plot and pitch-perfect characterization.
Night Ops by friendshipper
light McKay/Keller, Sheppard; PG-13; action, h/c; season 4; 17,500 words
Summary: Colonel Sheppard has been in the hands of the Nolari for just over six hours. They are not known for treating their prisoners well. When a rescue mission goes FUBAR, McKay and Keller find themselves racing a ticking clock to save Sheppard's life on a lethal, frozen world.
A fun, suspenseful action-adventure story, in which Rodney and Jennifer get thrown into a combat situation and have to team up and save the day. I love the vivid descriptions, the Keller POV, and the nice, tingly UST between our two reluctant heroes.
I'm really delighted that I lucked out and won Sholio in the auction - I've had a soft spot for Rodney/Jennifer ever since 'Trio', be it friendship or ship, and that pairing is still somewhat the red-headed stepchild of fandom. I've been looking for stories just like this. This would make a great episode, too.
The True Story of When They Went A-Wandering by auburnnothenna
gen; Rating: R; humor; Spoilers; through 5x13 Inquisition; ~16,290 words
Summary: It's just like a mission, only not.
Funniest fic I've read in a while; I had a great time reading it. This is the tale of our intrepid team following the honored Pegasus tradition of The Wandering (in order to improve their image in the galaxy). Naturally they handle that task with great grace and dignity... um.
The Pirate's Prisoner by rhymer23
Gen; AU; PG-13; 42,000 words, plus ten illustrations
Characters: Team, with a bit of Lorne, Carson and Kolya
Summary: Rodney McKay hadn't realised he was being abducted by pirates at first. (If he had, he would, of course, have resisted with proud defiance, willing to die rather than submit.) Now he finds himself on the ship of the second most notorious pirate in the Caribbees, immured in a dank prison (well, a fairly spacious cabin, but that's not the point), forced to prostitute his intellect in the service of evil. And there's a savage on board, and a woman - an actual woman, in man's clothes, would you believe? Will Rodney ever escape and make it back to London to receive the Royal Academy Fellowship that is surely awaiting him?
Why rec'd:Sometimes a fic is so good that I sit, fingers hovering over the keyboard, thinking how the hell do I do I come up with a rec that does this story justice when I just want to blurt out, "This is so AWESOME, flist, go read STAT one!eleven"
Anyhoo... if you like suspenseful genfic with a fine sense of humor, I can't rec this one enough (and I'm saying that as someone who, until very recently, hasn't even read AU). It's fun to see the characters in this setting... particularly to see Sheppard's rogue band of misfits through Rodney's eyes (I always dig a well-done outsider POV). Excellent worldbuilding: Rhymer did a ton of research for this fic, and it shows in the historical accuracy and the detail of the writing. You get an authentic feel of the era.
To round it off, the fic comes with a chock ful of bonus material: an addendum with songs and historical documents and some very neat illustrations of Pirate Sheppard and his merry band.
As someone who didn't use to see the appeal of AU fic, I was surprised how well this story works on both levels, both as an SGA fic and a riveting pirate tale. The characters feel so real, my first impulse was to wish for fic written in this 'verse.
And now there's a sequel:
The Price of a Pardon
gen; team; 49,000 words, plus drawings, maps and photos
summary: Rodney McKay wasn't sure what he expected to happen when he decided to throw his lot in with the enigmatic Captain Sheppard and his alarming crew, but it definitely wasn't near-constant brushes with almost certain doom. The angry mobs are a worry, too, as is the espionage, the last-minute rescues, the alarming quantities of crime, the dastardly rogues bent on killing them, the scheming enemies, the swooning maidens and the secret tunnels. Will Rodney and his new companions survive to get their happy ending?
This is a wonderful story, a great blend of humor, drama, and suspense, rounded off with accurately researched historical detail that draws you into this 'verse. It makes for a very satisfying sequel as well... it adds new dimension to all of the characters, the plot is original, and seamlessly ties this story to the first one. Fantastic voices - those guys sound just like themselves, if they lived in the 18th century - and the choice of POV works extremely well, too. This fic is a real treat (I'm still smiling as I type this).
Make sure you read 'The Pirate's Prisoner' first, if you haven't already, as the sequel heavily builds on the first part.
Teenage Kicks by rheanna27
McShep; fairly tame R; 27,000 words
Spoilers: Set mid season 4; small spoilers for 'Outcast'
Summary: It's not about changing the past. It's about letting the past change you.
Insta-rec!
"Transporting matter over such huge a distance in time and space like this takes vast amounts of energy. Projecting a consciousness back in time is more energy efficient by several magnitudes. It's time travel on a budget, and if I hadn't been turned into a teenager I'd take a moment to be impressed."
Figurative Hell And Literal High Water by tipper_green
Characters: Keller, Rodney, Teyla, Sheppard, Ronon
Spoilers: Missing (this takes place after Missing but before This Mortal Coil).
gen (with a teensy hint of Rodney/Jennifer UST); PG; 36,000 words; written for sga_genficathon
Summary: Rodney's desperate to save his team, and Keller's just trying to keep up, on a planet where hurricanes can last for days.
why rec'd: A descriptive and action-filled adventure story with a fantastic Keller POV that does the character justice. She gets a chance to shine in this one, with nature throwing obstacle after obstacle at them, and Sheppard's team lying injured (really well-written h/c, too). It's much fun to see Rodney and Jennifer play off each other.
This fic put me in a happy mood and left me with a yen for more Keller-centric fic.
medium length:
Blue Colorado Skies by xparrot
gen; PG; team; whump (Rodney); AU; ~11,400 words
Rodney had guessed John Smith would be trouble the day he rode into town and tramped into his shop, yellow with dust and stinking of horse and sweat, and asked if he was McKay. Rodney had looked at the man's worn boots, his shabby black Stetson, and the Colt holstered at his side, and known no good could come of this.
Squee-worthy, original, plotty steampunk AU: Rodney is a brilliant (duh) inventor, John the heir of the evil Sheppard Works. I love the background setting, and the way the characters within it stay so utterly themselves.
Soldiering On by pansychubb
gen; Rating: T; Spoilers: Set in S5; Characters: Rodney & team; 10,847 words
It's up to Rodney to save the day. Well-written team adventure with just the right amount of h/c.
Unmanifest Destiny by vain_glorious
team; Rating: PG-13; 8,261 words
Summary: Following the events of 5X01, Team Sheppard goes to Earth and takes a roadtrip across the US.
This fic blew me away. If the story feels somehow off... don't let that deter you; the author knows what she's doing. This is not your average fluffy roadtrip fic... this story carries a punch, and I couldn't shake it off easily afterwards. I had to re-read it on the same evening, which I rarely do.
Or Something Like It by semivowel
McKay/Sheppard; R; ~7700 words
It turns out Sheppard’s physically unharmed, just doped out of his mind on Pegasus Galaxy truth serum. And since the rescue party arrives 35 minutes later, Rodney down-grades the entire experience to a mild food-poisoning equivalence class.
Semivowel's oversharing Sheppard is hilarious, and completely in character. Great character voices. A pleasure to read.
Check out her mckay/sheppard tag; all her fic is great reading.
The Awful Truth by blade_girl
Humor; PG; Characters: McKay, Sheppard; 6,421 words
Summary: Always follow your instincts…unless your instincts are morons.
Hysterical first-time, bad!sex fic. And contrary to what that sounds like, it's actually gen. You'll just have to read and see.
“That was… that was good, wasn’t it?” Sheppard was asking. “I mean, before you hit your head.”
Gravity by rheanna27
gen with a touch of John/Rodney; PG; 7,000 words
Spoilers: Big ones for The Last Man. Really, it won't even make sense if you haven't seen the ep.
Summary: Seventeen years, eight months and nine days after Sheppard closed himself into the stasis chamber, Rodney has an idea.
Why rec'd: This is a sci-fi story in the true sense, a fascinating exploration of the setup we were left with in The Last Man. Rheanna does a great job evoking a feeling of the virtual space it's set in. And in spite of the subject matter, there's a warmth to this story... the tone is melancholy, with lots of humor and snark (we're talking about Sheppard and McKay here, and the guys are very much in character, AI or not). It reads a little like poetry, for lack of a better word.
Games of Chance by xparrot
PG-13; Characters: Rodney, Sheppard, Team, etc.; Season 4 cast/spoilers; ~12,000 words
Summary: Sheppard's got one chance, and Rodney is going to find it, no matter what.
For the 'Second Verse' challenge at flashfic: John gets taken by the Wraith, and Rodney hooks himself up to a modified Ancient device so he can go through every impossible rescue scenario in order to find the possible one. I love premise and execution both.
Old Soldiers Die Hard by friendshipper
gen, Rating: T; spoilers: S3; 8500 words
Summary: The old guy in Room 30B was about the most disagreeable human being that the nurses had ever met. But he did get visitors -- including a retired Air Force Colonel.
This is a story I'd put off reading for a while because from the summary and subject matter I'd feared it would be depressing... which, okay, it turned out to be most definitely not. Wonderful story, with an interesting and engaging OC. I really like the outsider POV.A Rational Universe by xparrot
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; 6943 words
Summary: "You're a lot more encouraging than my last friendly hallucination," Rodney says.
Fascinating story, really gripping. John and the other Lanteans need his command codes, but Rodney knows he can't trust anyone, least of all himself.
Hero for a New Age by smittywing
gen; PG; characters: Ronon Dex, Rodney McKay, Atlantis cast; 11,600 words
Terrific friendship fic with spot-on voices. Ronon and Rodney bonding over Superhero comics: While Ronon gets caught up on Batman & Co, we in turn get to see glimpses of Satedan culture and tales. I usually don't have that much interest in superhero lore but it's the absolutely perfect angle here!
post traumatic stress syndrome without the 'post' by americanleaguer
McKay/Todd [Don't look at me like that. Just trust me on this, okay?]; R; 12,250 words; written for sga_flashfic's ancient history challenge
Author's Notes: Guys, I am so sorry. I don't even know. I think I wanted to write this story anyways and the challenge just gave me a framework in which to do it. I feel obligated to say that despite the pairing and general amount of Todd in this fic, it is not crack!fic. I also feel obligated to say that there's a load of McSheppy friendship going on here, so it's not like it's all Wraith all the time.
With the way Todd and McKay play off each other when they do their science thing, it's strange there's not more fic about them. And the author totally makes this whacked-out pairing work. Highly entertaining read.
short fic/ficlets:
Rewind by lizzypaul
McKay/Sheppard; PG13; Spoilers: Through "Quarantine"; 4800 words
Summary: Rodney is stuck in an endless Monday.
I want to do a list of time-loop fics at some point (my favorite trope, and here's a fandom where there's not just one but at least a dozen and they're all good... how can you beat that?!) This story is fun, well-written with an interesting character angle.
Five Stories Jeannie Miller Tells by argosy
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; ~4,300 words
Summary: She hopes they will tell all the stories of Atlantis.
A lovely, bittersweet story, beautifully written and structured.
Breaking Up in Three Easy Clichés by xparrot
McKay/Keller; PG; spoilers for "The Last Man" and "The Shrine"; ~3,300 words
Xparrot says in the story notes that she doesn't like this pairing much and wrote this fic to come to terms with it; you couldn't tell from reading the story. As someone who does like the pairing, I'll be thrilled if the canon writers can pull off writing a relationship this believable and respectful to the characters.
You Only Ever Lose One
McShep; AU (a lot); crack (the strong kind); 3,000 words
Summary: John and Rodney are socks. Yes, socks.
I've been looking for this fic everywhere, luckily it just came up on storyfinders: The one where they're socks. That really says it all. *cuddles fandom*
Unexpected Hazards of the Best Friend Relationship by argosy
McKay/Keller, McKay/Sheppard; PG; generally spoilery for Brain Storm; 2750 words
Summary: When Rodney and Jennifer break up, John really wants to be there for his friend.
I've been looking for stories that deal with the John/Rodney/Jennifer triangle while treating all three characters with respect, and this story does just that. Very believable take on the relationships.
But If You Try Sometimes (you just might find) by sardonicsmiley
Rodney/Jennifer; PG; Post ep for The Shrine; 1,800 words
Summary: “What about you and John? Rodney, I’d have to be blind not to-not to-you know.”
Quite amazing character/relationship piece that managed to help me sort out my feelings after watching the episode. I adopted her take on it into my personal canon. The way she writes the tangled emotions and relationships feels absolutely believable.
Story of My Life by busaikko
Rodney/Jennifer; PG; Written for artword; Spoilers through The Shrine; 1,685 words
Author's summary: Bravery doesn't always come in action-hero packaging. (Or, my take on the end of S5 *cue evil laughter*)
Somewhere in there I can see an epic fic looming, and I'd love to read that... but even these snapshots are intriguing and fun to read.
Heaven for Beginners by wojelah
McKay/Keller; R; Spoilers: for Brain Storm (5x16); ~1,200 words
Summary: "They've had a lot of "dates" - for Jennifer, the conferences are really pretty much old hat these days, and she considers herself something of an expert in the peculiar sociology of astrophysicists."
Lovesick (No, Really) by pansychubb (aka LilRicki)
gen; Rating: PG13; ~500 words
Prompt: Write a story featuring the team in which ONLY dialogue is used.
Pansychubb has a knack for writing entertaining whump... :o)
Girl Talk by pansychubb
G; Teyla & Amelia; minor spoiler for 5x14 The Prodigal; 424 words
Sparring!fic with spot-on voices. Now I have a craving for more Teyla-Amelia bonding fic.
linabean wrote the thing that's been missing from this year: sgastoryfinders, the poem
Here's a tiny snippet:
They were either in an established relationship, or dancing around one,
I just remember
alot of tension
Maybe
some angst.
The important thing is: they have sex
There's more, much more. And it's a thing of beauty.
The Guy Who Came in From the Cold by 01100100
gen with a touch of het; PG-13; Imaginary!Carter/McKay + McKay/Markov; 4,933 words
Spoilers: Stargate SG-1's 48 Hours.
Summary:: Rodney is sent to Siberia where he learns to thaw out a little.
“This is it?” he complains, getting nothing but an indifferent and grim look from a man of indeterminate and completely irrelevant military rank as he turns away. “Oh, well, thank you. I always wondered what living in the gulag would be like.”
I adore this story! A wonderful fic about Rodney coming to terms with his exile in Siberia: funny, insightful... and effortlessly reconciling that jerk from 48 Hours with our McKay.
Five Authors Who Didn't Write Stargate Atlantis by rhymer23
gen; PG; Characters: Team, plus others; Words: 3000
Summary: Four authors who (fortunately for them) didn't write Stargate Atlantis, and one who (fortunately for Atlantis) didn't write it, either.
Our characters end up in various fictional universes where they don't fit in all too well. Brilliant pastiche; she manages to emulate the various authors's style just perfectly, and on top of that each story is hilarious. Brother to the Executioner by xparrot
Sheppard POV; Miller's Crossing tag, therefore huge spoilers for that episode; 1,010 words
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics postulates an infinity of universes, an ever-growing tree of possibilities, wherein somewhere, every choice is made; every potential outcome of any decision is realized, every possible option taken, somewhere.
Nowhere in that infinity is the universe where John Sheppard willingly steps back and allows Rodney McKay to walk into the Wraith's embrace.
Five Things John Can't Help But Notice by xparrot
John/Rodney, PG, 600 words (5 drabbles + one for the road)
Author's Notes: So I've been watching various sources of Hewlett-y goodness, and it's occurred to me that I might have a wee little crush on David Hewlett. But that's okay, because John Sheppard has a huge massive one on Rodney McKay.
This is adorable and just so spot-on, and really beautifully written - she conveys a whole lot in just 600 words. And, the last line is perfect.
Ashna and Eshon by sheafrotherdon
Rodney/Teyla; PG; ~2100 words
For sticksandsnark, prompt: Teyla. Queen.
Summary: He realized, waking up one morning to blink at the stack of books by his bed, that he'd never said hello to Teyla in her own language, never sung a made-up song to Kagaan with words the boy would one day claim as his own.
Rodney learns Athosian for Teyla. Beautiful story, and an intriguing look at the linguistics of the gate'verse.
Textual translation software was standard on every Lantean machine, and he fed words from his book into the laptop, sent them through a set of algorithms he'd tweaked once or twice, waited for the English meanings to pop up on his screen. Ashna, Devaat, Mehnit, Eshon, Emar, G'tare, Tasaan, Ushf'd - the words sprang up in Athosian and English; queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen, queen. Rodney frowned and ran the command again - queen, queen; the result was the same.
This Is the Song that Goes Like This by argosy
Rodney/Teyla; PG; 3,200 words
For sticksandsnark, prompt: culture shock
Summary: And that was how Rodney got sucked against his will into the Day of Renewal celebration, or--as Rodney liked to think of it--Teyla's Athosian Extravaganza.
Adorable, funny... perfect ending.
Grossly oversimplified by americanleaguer
McShep; R; 3,926 words; written for the Must Be Dreaming challenge at sga_flashfic
Author's notes: Other people are using this challenge to write thought-provoking, emotional examinations of the human psyche and the nature of dreaming. This is not one of those fics.
"It's like a holodeck for dreams!" Sheppard says, all kinds of pleased with himself.
McKay takes a half-second to close his eyes and breathe deeply. "I really hate you, you know that?"
"Just because you need a load of big words to say the same damn thing..."
"Holodeck for dreams, that is such a gross oversimplification, I can't even... what are you doing, don't touch that!"
comics/cartoons/illustrated fic:
Escape Velocity by dogeared and aesc (a comic/collage in 5 pages from Vegas!verse)
PG; John-centric gen; spoilers for 5x19 Vegas
Gorgeous comic that puts a new spin on the episode.
The Pirate's Prisoner by rhymer23
vids:
Open Secrets of the Pegasus Galaxy by yevgenie (Song: Leonard Cohen)
gen; PG; whole cast; Seasons: 1-4; Length: 4:04
Summary: That's how it goes, everybody knows.
author's notes: This is my love letter to Stargate Atlantis. It is also a letter about how Stargate: Atlantis drives me fucking crazy. [waves hands in explanation]
Brilliant vid about life and death in Pegasus. It's a meta-essay in vid form, and it made me fall in love with the show all over again.
Sweet Apocalypse by zap99nad (Artist: Moby)
Action/Drama, AU; can be read as gen or McShep; Characters: Sheppard, McKay, supporting characters: Kolya, Elizabeth, Carson, Wraith
Summary: Kolya is a bounty hunter working for the Wraith in exchange for a steady supply of Enzymes. John's next on the list. This is what happened...
Constructed Reality, very convincingly done. A cool, fun, atmosperic vid with great storytelling and pacing. I enjoyed watching it a lot; it was much like reading fic.
Be a Rockstar by chayiana (scroll down to the vid)
Music: Rockstar by Nickelback; Genre: Humor; Spoilers up to The Kindred
Characters: Lorne, Team, Todd (*G*)
So much fun... a witty idea at every turn, and images that fit the music perfectly (not necessarily in ways you'd expect).
What is Eternal? by gnine
Song: from Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Beethoven's Last Night
Character: Rodney
Spoilers: Big whoopin' spoilers for 'The Last Man'; the vid won't make as much sense if you haven't seen the episode.
(alternative lyrics link, as the one in the post stopped working for me)
Such a beautiful interplay of lyrics and clips; the song is *perfect* for Rodney. Specifially, the Rodney we see in TLM. More than a simple retelling of The Last Man, this vid adds a whole other dimension to it. Hard to describe... best watch!
Grace Kelly by dkwilliams (diana@slashcity.com)
Pairing: McShep (could be friendship), Sheppard/Various Women; Format & Size: 30MB DIVX
Why don't you like me, why don't you like me?!" wonders Rodney. Heh. Another one of my favorite Atlantis vids... funny and charming. I really like that song, too.
Too Good To Be True by blithesea
Rodney/Ronon pining
very funny vid, the editing is brilliant. Some of the edits I only realized on second viewing (during the first viewing my brain was scratching its metaphorical head, going waitaminute...). Watch it, you'll see what I mean.
Atlantis opening credits, House Style
meta/recs:
(older recs in Part I)