AO3 Hit Meme
I've done the AO3 hits meme in April 2012 and thought I'd do it again.
Here are my ten fics (with a bit of cheating, where I counted a prequel with the main fic) on AO3 with the most hit counts:
(Note that "only available on AO3" is not entirely correct because some fics have been posted at the Ebook Library, though the statement is true for when the fic was first published. Also note that the statistics page now lists comment threads instead of comments in 2012.)
1. Knowing (T) John/Rodney et al. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2010. 46,749 words.
As the members of the Atlantis expedition wait for the order to return, Rodney struggles with his relationship with Jennifer and his own expectations. Spending much time with John does nothing to clarify his feelings, but in the end he still finds the answers to his questions.
11693 hits, 144 kudos, 50 comment threads (7626 hits, 52 kudos, 101 comments in 2012 at place 1) (only available on AO3)
2. Our Own Reality (E) John/Rodney. NaNoWriMo novel 2009. 54,296 words.
An accident with an Ancient machine forces John to adjust to a life that doesn't feel like his own any longer. The most difficult part to figure out is what role Rodney will play in it.
6165 hits, 130 kudos, 8 comment threads (2847 hits, 26 kudos, 12 comments in 2012 at place 3) (available as I wrote it on LJ, but in one piece on AO3)
3. Grounded (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for AU Big Bang 2010. 20,435 words.
After spending over a decade researching for his second book, Rodney McKay has to face the loss of his money and home. John Sheppard, the grandson of an old friend of Rodney's, is happy to offer him a place to stay in his grandmother's boarding house that he plans to reopen. As they try to deal with their respective futures, their pasts catch up with them in ways that give both of their lives a new direction and new hope.
5410 hits, 51 kudos, 7 comment threads (3917 hits, 20 kudos, 10 comments in 2012 at place 2) (only available on AO3)
4. Flight (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for AU Big Bang 2011. 24,721 words.
Rodney McKay has been imprisoned for ten years and forced to work as an engineer. It's by accident that he's rescued by John Sheppard and his crew and ends up on John's space ship, the Pegasus. At first, he only joins them to get passage back to the planet where he was kidnapped, but soon John makes him an offer he can't refuse.
5289 hits, 174 kudos, 15 comment threads (2612 hits, 81 kudos, 24 comments in 2012 at place 4) (only available on AO3)
5. Expecting (M) John/Rodney. Written for the MPreg Big Bang 2012. 16,180 words.
When a run-in with an Ancient machine leaves John ready to bear a child, he has to make a decision that will affect not just him, but the very recent changes in his relationship with Rodney.
4539 hits, 130 kudos, 14 comment threads (1809 hits, 59 kudos, 28 comments in 2012 at place 7) (only available on AO3)
6. Compatibility (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2011. 41,360 words.
This story centers around John and Rodney's life together, after their first meeting, a sexual encounter in a mall, induced by their genetic compatibility. John and Rodney struggled most of their lives with their feelings about their cycling and rare compatibility respectively. As their relationship progresses, they have to realize that they still haven't quite found out what they want, but it becomes increasingly clear that however they deal with their genetic compatibility, it's the non-genetic one that matters to them.
4267 hits, 72 kudos, 15 comment threads (2545 hits, 47 kudos, 29 comments in 2012 at place 5) (only available on AO3)
6a. Waiting to Engage (M) John/Rodney. Written as my interpretation of the cycling universe, but posted on AO3 along with the Atlantis Big Bang 2011. 2,513 words.
The year Rodney was born is often cited as the birth of the cycling choice movement.
2999 hits, 34 kudos, 1 comment threads (1674 hits, 17 kudos, 2 comments in 2012)
7. Every Day in Every Way (E) John/Rodney. Written for the first SGA Big Bang 2007. 58,506 words.
"I'm here to propose an arrangement. Between us. I assume you remember our talk from earlier today and how... challenging dating can be on Atlantis. And since we've established that you're attracted to me, I think it would be mutually beneficial for us to have sex."
3424 hits, 131 kudos, 10 comment threads (new in 2014)
8. Following the Lead (T) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Casefic 2011. 17,238 words.
John Sheppard's latest murder case has a growing amount of leads, none of which allow him to solve the puzzle of Karen Parker's unusual death. When Rodney McKay is brought in on the case, it's annoyance at first sight for both of them. While John is stuck in the time of combustion cars and 2D-TVs, Rodney embraces the latest technologies and develops housebots in his free time. Together they work to uncover why Karen Parker had to die and along the way discover that they have more in common than they thought.
3406 hits, 68 kudos, 4 comment threads (2129 hits, 46 kudos, 8 comments in 2012 at place 6) (only available on AO3)
9. At Your Service (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2012. 60,211 words.
Every relationship between a master and his body servant is different. Body servants take care of the house, assist their master's work, or even provide sexual services in some cases. But falling in love is unheard of for them, and through the years, John Sheppard and his master, Rodney McKay, struggle with the roles that the strict rules of Atlantia impose on them.
3371 hits, 90 kudos, 16 comment threads (new in 2014) (only available on AO3)
10. Indebted to Lord Sheppard (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Harlequin Big Bang 2013. 15,824 words.
When Lord Sheppard offers that Rodney repay his debt to him in sexual services, Rodney takes the chance.
2977 hits, 85 kudos, 7 comment threads (new in 2014) (only available on AO3)
Some thoughts on the list:
Just like last time, the top ten is all about the long fics (that are mostly not available elsewhere). This time there's not even a single exception that managed to slip in (discounting the prequel at 6a, which was probably read along with the main story).
The only non-McShep story from last time (the Joe/David elf AU "Disturbances in an Elf's Life") is now at place 23 (it was 8 in 2012).
"Knowing" is still by far my most popular fic on AO3. "Our Own Reality" and "Grounded" switched places. "Flight" stays at four, but it stands out as the fic with the most kudos (see below). "Expecting" moved up from place 7 to 5 (it was posted only two months before compiling the list in 2012, which might explain it as well as being MPreg). "Compatibility" slipped from 5 to 6. "Every Day in Every Way" is new in the top ten at place 7. "Following the Lead" slipped from 6 to 8. "At Your Service" and "Indebted to Lord Sheppard" are both (pseudo)historical, explicit fics that were posted after I compiled the last list.
Sorting by kudos puts a few different fics in my top ten, so here's that list:
1. Flight
2. Primary Season
3. Knowing
4. Every Day in Every Way
5. Our Own Reality
6. Expecting
7. September 20th, 2011
8. Final Order
9. Sold to Colonel Sheppard
10. Speed Dating
"Primary Season" is a 20k political AU. "September 20th, 2011" is a short story I felt compelled to write when DADT finally officially became history. It seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people. "Final Order" is 20k zombie AU set in the sixties. "Sold to Colonel Sheppard" and "Speed Dating" are about popular tropes.
Here are my ten fics (with a bit of cheating, where I counted a prequel with the main fic) on AO3 with the most hit counts:
(Note that "only available on AO3" is not entirely correct because some fics have been posted at the Ebook Library, though the statement is true for when the fic was first published. Also note that the statistics page now lists comment threads instead of comments in 2012.)
1. Knowing (T) John/Rodney et al. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2010. 46,749 words.
As the members of the Atlantis expedition wait for the order to return, Rodney struggles with his relationship with Jennifer and his own expectations. Spending much time with John does nothing to clarify his feelings, but in the end he still finds the answers to his questions.
11693 hits, 144 kudos, 50 comment threads (7626 hits, 52 kudos, 101 comments in 2012 at place 1) (only available on AO3)
2. Our Own Reality (E) John/Rodney. NaNoWriMo novel 2009. 54,296 words.
An accident with an Ancient machine forces John to adjust to a life that doesn't feel like his own any longer. The most difficult part to figure out is what role Rodney will play in it.
6165 hits, 130 kudos, 8 comment threads (2847 hits, 26 kudos, 12 comments in 2012 at place 3) (available as I wrote it on LJ, but in one piece on AO3)
3. Grounded (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for AU Big Bang 2010. 20,435 words.
After spending over a decade researching for his second book, Rodney McKay has to face the loss of his money and home. John Sheppard, the grandson of an old friend of Rodney's, is happy to offer him a place to stay in his grandmother's boarding house that he plans to reopen. As they try to deal with their respective futures, their pasts catch up with them in ways that give both of their lives a new direction and new hope.
5410 hits, 51 kudos, 7 comment threads (3917 hits, 20 kudos, 10 comments in 2012 at place 2) (only available on AO3)
4. Flight (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for AU Big Bang 2011. 24,721 words.
Rodney McKay has been imprisoned for ten years and forced to work as an engineer. It's by accident that he's rescued by John Sheppard and his crew and ends up on John's space ship, the Pegasus. At first, he only joins them to get passage back to the planet where he was kidnapped, but soon John makes him an offer he can't refuse.
5289 hits, 174 kudos, 15 comment threads (2612 hits, 81 kudos, 24 comments in 2012 at place 4) (only available on AO3)
5. Expecting (M) John/Rodney. Written for the MPreg Big Bang 2012. 16,180 words.
When a run-in with an Ancient machine leaves John ready to bear a child, he has to make a decision that will affect not just him, but the very recent changes in his relationship with Rodney.
4539 hits, 130 kudos, 14 comment threads (1809 hits, 59 kudos, 28 comments in 2012 at place 7) (only available on AO3)
6. Compatibility (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2011. 41,360 words.
This story centers around John and Rodney's life together, after their first meeting, a sexual encounter in a mall, induced by their genetic compatibility. John and Rodney struggled most of their lives with their feelings about their cycling and rare compatibility respectively. As their relationship progresses, they have to realize that they still haven't quite found out what they want, but it becomes increasingly clear that however they deal with their genetic compatibility, it's the non-genetic one that matters to them.
4267 hits, 72 kudos, 15 comment threads (2545 hits, 47 kudos, 29 comments in 2012 at place 5) (only available on AO3)
6a. Waiting to Engage (M) John/Rodney. Written as my interpretation of the cycling universe, but posted on AO3 along with the Atlantis Big Bang 2011. 2,513 words.
The year Rodney was born is often cited as the birth of the cycling choice movement.
2999 hits, 34 kudos, 1 comment threads (1674 hits, 17 kudos, 2 comments in 2012)
7. Every Day in Every Way (E) John/Rodney. Written for the first SGA Big Bang 2007. 58,506 words.
"I'm here to propose an arrangement. Between us. I assume you remember our talk from earlier today and how... challenging dating can be on Atlantis. And since we've established that you're attracted to me, I think it would be mutually beneficial for us to have sex."
3424 hits, 131 kudos, 10 comment threads (new in 2014)
8. Following the Lead (T) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Casefic 2011. 17,238 words.
John Sheppard's latest murder case has a growing amount of leads, none of which allow him to solve the puzzle of Karen Parker's unusual death. When Rodney McKay is brought in on the case, it's annoyance at first sight for both of them. While John is stuck in the time of combustion cars and 2D-TVs, Rodney embraces the latest technologies and develops housebots in his free time. Together they work to uncover why Karen Parker had to die and along the way discover that they have more in common than they thought.
3406 hits, 68 kudos, 4 comment threads (2129 hits, 46 kudos, 8 comments in 2012 at place 6) (only available on AO3)
9. At Your Service (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Atlantis Big Bang 2012. 60,211 words.
Every relationship between a master and his body servant is different. Body servants take care of the house, assist their master's work, or even provide sexual services in some cases. But falling in love is unheard of for them, and through the years, John Sheppard and his master, Rodney McKay, struggle with the roles that the strict rules of Atlantia impose on them.
3371 hits, 90 kudos, 16 comment threads (new in 2014) (only available on AO3)
10. Indebted to Lord Sheppard (E) John/Rodney. AU. Written for Harlequin Big Bang 2013. 15,824 words.
When Lord Sheppard offers that Rodney repay his debt to him in sexual services, Rodney takes the chance.
2977 hits, 85 kudos, 7 comment threads (new in 2014) (only available on AO3)
Some thoughts on the list:
Just like last time, the top ten is all about the long fics (that are mostly not available elsewhere). This time there's not even a single exception that managed to slip in (discounting the prequel at 6a, which was probably read along with the main story).
The only non-McShep story from last time (the Joe/David elf AU "Disturbances in an Elf's Life") is now at place 23 (it was 8 in 2012).
"Knowing" is still by far my most popular fic on AO3. "Our Own Reality" and "Grounded" switched places. "Flight" stays at four, but it stands out as the fic with the most kudos (see below). "Expecting" moved up from place 7 to 5 (it was posted only two months before compiling the list in 2012, which might explain it as well as being MPreg). "Compatibility" slipped from 5 to 6. "Every Day in Every Way" is new in the top ten at place 7. "Following the Lead" slipped from 6 to 8. "At Your Service" and "Indebted to Lord Sheppard" are both (pseudo)historical, explicit fics that were posted after I compiled the last list.
Sorting by kudos puts a few different fics in my top ten, so here's that list:
1. Flight
2. Primary Season
3. Knowing
4. Every Day in Every Way
5. Our Own Reality
6. Expecting
7. September 20th, 2011
8. Final Order
9. Sold to Colonel Sheppard
10. Speed Dating
"Primary Season" is a 20k political AU. "September 20th, 2011" is a short story I felt compelled to write when DADT finally officially became history. It seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people. "Final Order" is 20k zombie AU set in the sixties. "Sold to Colonel Sheppard" and "Speed Dating" are about popular tropes.