SGA fic recs - main list, part I
I put up all my SGA fic recs in one post - roughly three dozen a hundred recs in this post, mostly Rodney-centric. (gen, McShep, Sam/Rodney, teamfic; sorted by length)
Last updated April 4, 2008 [post was reaching length limit so I had to split it. More recs here: recs part II | recs part III
novel length | long/multichapter fics | medium length | short fic/ficlets | comics/cartoons/illustrated fic | vids | meta/recs
novel length:
Maybe I'm Dead, I Just Haven't Stopped Moving Yet by cybersyd42
Gen; Rodney-centric... plus team, Zelenka, Becket, Carter (xover with SG-1); set in early S3; 118,400 words
summary: The consequences of a mission gone wrong have a devastating impact on the SGA team.
I read this story practically non-stop, except for the part where I had to put it down last night in order to catch some sleep. Then this morning I skipped breakfast, postponed work, and went straight back to the story.
Not what you'd call a fluffy read; the characters are put through the emotional wringer, and so's the reader. And at the same time this story is satisfying and uplifting, not to mention gripping. The emotional conflicts are entirely believable, the plot and the background detail are great. Fantastic fic.
White walls by Eildon Rhymer (rhymer23)
Gen; Angst; rated T for some violent imagery and general psychological darkness, though there's nothing graphic. Spoilers: through Reunion; 57,000 words.
Summary: Four went out, and three came back. Sheppard has vanished, and the rest of his team lies injured. By the time they recover, the trail has gone cold. As Sheppard and his team fight their own separate battles for hope and survival, the true danger may be different from what any of them expect.
In the beginning I almost stopped reading this fic since it seemed to veer in a direction much darker than I like in my fic. In the end I'm really glad I kept reading, that was a fantastic story that stayed with me after reading. I thought the premise was fascinating, and explored in a very convincing way.
Written By The Victors by cesperanza
The fic that's eating fandom - the story of Atlantis' secession from Earth, told partly in the form of excerpts from historical texts as well as traditional narrative. Incredibly satisfying and complex, just go read! (if you haven't already; you probably have but I can't not mention it :) 55,000 words
and Written By The Victors: The Vid by queenzulu
Constructed reality, absolutely convincing. I've watched it repeatedly already; it's so cool to watch the story come to life in pictures.
Salt Of The Earth by Dasha
Gen; 75,000 words; McKay-centric, but nonetheless very much a team fic. Rating: R (I'm guessing for violence/medical gore) to PG-13
Summary: Rodney has almost everything he wants
One of the best h/c stories I've read, and one of my favorite fics in SGA fandom. Rodney gets severely injured offworld, and the story focuses on his convalescence. A 75,000 word story about McKay recovering from a stomach wound... and there's not one redundant sentence. It's a well-rounded story with interesting subplots, rich background detail, and fantastic characterization, not just of McKay.
snippet: Rodney found himself sitting in the pilot's seat. On the best days, this made him a little sweaty. Instead of taking the other seat, Sheppard stood just behind him, a strong hand on Rodney's shoulder. "You'll be fine. This is jumper 7. She likes you."
There was something in his voice. Something satisfied and happy. It occurred to him then that this wasn't the usual tease about Rodney's flying. This was a present. If Sheppard had spent the better part of a month in the infirmary, *this* was what he'd be longing for. After just a few days, he'd be aching to sit in this seat again. He couldn't really believe that Rodney hadn't missed it at all. This was an attempt to help. Sheppard thought it would help a lot.
Running on Empty by friendshipper
Season/spoilers: Season 2, before "Michael"
Gen; Rating: T; Genre: Action/adventure, angst, friendship; 89,323 words
Summary: Sheppard and McKay are captured by Wraith, implanted with trackers and released to run and die.
Rodney and Sheppard are dumped on a hostile terrain and - hunted by Wraith, against insurmountable odds - have to McGyver their way out of it. Thanks to this fic, the recent plane ride to California went by like that *snips*, so caught up was I in the story. Extremely gripping read!
That Which is Broken by friendshipper
Gen; 60,000 words; "Trinity" tag; Genre: Drama, action, angst, h/c, friendship, teamfic
Teyla notices the rift between Sheppard and McKay and comes up with a plan to set things right - which is when things start to go really wrong.
Best post-Trinity fic I've read! There's not a hint of Woobie!Rodney, thankfully... all the characterizations are fantastic, the clash between Rodney and John entirely believable, and particularly Teyla's alien-ness and her unique view of things come across really well. Plus, great plot.
Ghost in the Machine by sholio/friendshipper
summary: Sheppard and McKay are trapped on a world with a malfunctioning Stargate, a monster ... and a mystery.
Gen; 48,000 words; spoilers: through early S3; Rating: T/PG-13; Genre: Action/adventure, h/c, horror, suspense
--both suspenseful and moving.
Failure to Communicate by tipper
Gen; 56,972 words; Characters: Rodney, John, Ronon, Teyla, Elizabeth
Summary: The Team, including Weir, get trapped in the middle of a civil war on another world. In the beginning, McKay's badly hurt, Sheppard's running out of options, and the clock is ticking for the others sentenced to be hanged in the morning.
Great plotty action-adventure, complete with a pretty spectacular motorcycle chase. Just as good on second reading.
long/multichapter fics:
Theory of Everything by rheanna27
John/Rodney; R; 21,000 words
summary "Maybe it's just regular, good old fashioned burnout," John suggested, although he knew in his heart he was clutching at straws. "Maybe all you need is a vacation."
"'Maybe all you need is a vacation'," Rodney parroted. "Please. I'm not stupid, you know." Then he looked stricken. "I'm not stupid yet."
Brilliant take on the 'Flowers For Algernon' theme... very cleverly, evocatively written, in a way that you actually feel what would otherwise be abstract concepts. This story made me smile, made me tear up, and sucked me in completely. An absolute joy to read... heartbreaking, but in the very best way.
Follow the Sun to the Ends of the World by friendshipper/Sholio
Characters: Rodney (main), Sheppard, Ronon, Keller, Weir, Heightmeyer
Sunday spoilers. 17,265 words
Summary: In the aftermath of Sunday, no one is dealing well, least of all Rodney. But what if an Ancient device can give him back what he's lost?
This story adds a whole new dimension to that final scene of 'Sunday'. It's easy to imagine this as a missing part of the canon, one that was mostly glossed over on the show. The emotions, the pain of loss are downright palpable, and the plot is excellent.
Close Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades by smittywing
Rating: NC-17; McKay/Sheppard; Spoilers: Season One; Length: ~16,000 words
Summary: It should have been a brilliant arrangement. Sex that didn't count was vastly superior to no sex at all and had the added benefit of no attachments and no expectations.
It was really kind of pissing John off.
The New Atlantean Dictionary of Literary Terms: A Complete Reference in Four Volumes by thingswithwings
Pairings: John/Rodney, Teyla/Heightmeyer, and others; Rating: NC-17; Words: ~19 000
Original, with a structure that's very intricate and clever (but never detracts from the flow of the narrative)... ficlets and threads, woven together to form a picture.
snippet: Their first mission after John returns to field work is pretty much a milk run. John doesn’t mind, though, because P8N-2Z3 is all green and rolling fields lined with copses of wild trees and pools of bright flowers, as if it was terraformed by Tolkien. They’ve been here before and managed not to make a complete mess of it, so they’re greeted with cheerful smiles and waves and the kind of children who stick to your legs.
Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose by synecdochic
Spoilers: Through Season 2 and conjecture for the future.
Summary: SGC finally stops calling him by December. Rodney celebrates by writing a final exam for his relativity class so difficult that it reduces four students to tears in the exam hall. Upon reflection, he decides to be merciful and offer partial credit.
19,350 words
Achingly beautiful, this is one of the best pieces of fanfic I've ever read, across fandoms. I saw this story rec'd in several places but was at first hesitant to read it, because I knew it involved major character death. But that's not what this story is about. For me, it's about hope (if I want to put it in one word, which I really can't because it wouldn't do it justice). The prose is clear and perfect, and the plot drew me in right from the first paragraph. I had a knot in my stomach the entire time while reading it, and was incapable of putting it down.
and the band's playing "hail to the chief" by synecdochic
Set ten years after synecdochic's Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose, this is a satisfying coda to a wonderful story.
On a similar note, there's a vid made by lim to accompany "Freedom": This is How it Works . (download link) I think this vid manages to perfectly reflect the sentiment of the story - it conveys the same conflicting emotions of sadness, loss, hope, and love... making the best of your life, without regrets, without letting the fear of loss stop you from loving, from living. The lyrics match the story beautifully and the visuals grip you. It's hard to shake this one off but then, I didn't really want to.
Rebuilding Babel by the_drifter (fiercelydreamed)
Summary: He wondered if this was how it felt to go crazy -- you didn't lose your mind, it just stopped synching up with the world around you. The Pegasus galaxy makes Rodney an expert in what he can survive without.
21,000 words, Sheppard/McKay [story is for the most part gen, though], Spoilers through S2.
I nearly didn't read this fic, because stories in which a main character suffers disability of any kind are usually too dark for my taste. But then I followed a rec from stargateficrec and, wow, so glad I did.
This was written for the sga_flashfic's wordless challenge: McKay gets poisoned offworld, suffers brain damage and loses his ability to process words. There is no magical reset button, just ways he finally deals with his aphasia, and how that happens is utterly fascinating to read. Also amazing how the_drifter gets into his mind and conveys the wordlessness of his communications.
I'm keeping it vague 'cause I don't want to give away any of the plot... which is exciting and original, and really intense. There are so many memorable scenes in this, I can't even say which is my favorite one. snippet (spoilerish for the fic): Sheppard tilted his head curiously -- what's up? -- and Rodney had the uncharacteristic urge to, he didn't know, hug him or something, but that was in clear violation of the buddy code of conduct. After a few seconds of vacillation, he finally lifted both hands in a helpless gesture, grasping at the empty air, and just passed Sheppard the whole jumbled ball of it, amazement and relief and gratitude so intense it was almost gravitational.
Sheppard's head jerked back in surprise, and he stared at Rodney, who felt himself redden, because that was probably a bit much to drop on someone without warning. He was just starting to wish he'd gone with the hug instead when Sheppard's expression shifted into something less guarded, though no easier to read. He sent Rodney a brief, concise image: Sheppard in his quarters, looking penned in and mutely miserable, and Rodney shoving his way in with the device held out in one hand. You'd have done the same for me, it meant, and it wasn't a question.
Candle in the Dark by friendshipper
Summary: Injured and trapped underground with a killer robot, Sheppard and McKay must rely on each other to survive.; 26,000 words; gen
Season/spoilers: Season 2 or 3; no real spoilers; Rating: T; Genre: Action/adventure
--Page-turner with spot-on dialogue and a rather scary killer robot.
Plumber's Helper by friendshipper
Summary: As if the Wraith aren’t bad enough, now the Atlantean plumbing is broken. Set during and after Rising. Early Sheppard McKay friendship, but most of the other characters get to play too.; 27,435 words; gen
--Great banter and a fun, original plot (possibly the first fic I read that deals with the issue of plumbing). The city of Atlantis is a character in its own right, really, and it's great to see more glimpses of it here.
Bait and Switch by Madison
Sheppard/McKay; NC-17; 21732 words
Characters: Elizabeth Weir, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan
Summary: John and Rodney learn the hard way what it means to 'walk a mile' in each other's shoes...
After messing around with yet another ancient device, Sheppard and McKay end up stuck in each other's body...and with their brain. I love bodyswap fics and what makes this one particularly intriguing is the thought that personality and thought patterns are after all rooted in the physiology - this fic gleefully explores that idea in a fun way.
Ways to Die in the Pegasus Galaxy by crysothemis
Mckay/Sheppard, Rating: light NC-17 [author's; I'd give it a light R], 18,000 words
Warnings: action, snuggling, obtuseness, gratuitous hair abuse
Summary: Since when was sleeping together -- really, just sleeping -- some kind of a kink?
Sheppard finds McKay asleep in his bed whenever he's had a brush with death ... and soon throws himself into one life-threatening situation after the next.
I absolutely heart this fic, it put the dorkiest smile on my face. It's got great humor, action, and a perfectly-paced build up of the relationship (with both of them firmly adhering to the motto 'better living thru denial').
Nobody does it better or Rodney McKay and the Really Feisty Harem by eretria
Rating: R; 33071 words; Genre: Crossover, team, humor, action, *gasp* het.
[still, I'm sorting this one under Gen. Mostly Gen. With some (a lot of) kissing, and delightful McKay/Carter UST.]
Summary: In which everyone loves Rodney (and shows it), Vala is a stowaway with a decided interest in certain pilots, John is smart, Sam is flummoxed, Daniel is jealous, Ronon and Teyla realise all Earth people are peculiar, and Elizabeth is reminded that guests are like fish.
(I much prefer this fic to 'The Pegasus Project'...)
Finagle's Quake by Perri Smith
Characters: Rodney, Teyla, and team; gen; 18,834 words
Summary: Buried alive with a teammate on an alien world, and something outside just might blow up the planet. It's a very bad day in the Pegasus galaxy, even by Rodney's impressive standards.
medium length:
Necessary Things by minnow1212
Characters: McKay POV, team, Zelenka
10,770 words; PG
summary: in which McKay's quest for the contents of Kavanagh's iPod leads him into deeper waters than he expected.
This fic starts with McKay trying to get Kavanagh to share his music collection, and somehow ends being about a lot more. Gorgeous writing, great characterization. About music and friendship and other necessary things.
Granted, not having a wide selection of music wasn't the biggest problem in the world, or even the biggest problem in Rodney's life. It was possible, he conceded, that he was devoting a disproportionate amount of energy to it. On the other hand, it was a problem with a clearly-defined goal, and one without risk of death or dismemberment in achieving that goal, and Rodney appreciated having that sort of problem.
Also, giving up now would mean that Kavanagh would win.
So Little Space, So Much Time by liketheriverrun
Team fic; Gen; Image-heavy
Summary: Trapped in a downed Jumper, the team has to deal with an injured Sheppard as well as each other, which is harder than it seems.
Cabin fever fic, claustrophobic and cleverly done. The graphics are the dot on the I.
Between the Lines by friendshipper
gen; PG; 6500 words; Characters: John and Rodney; Spoilers: through "Doppelganger"
Summary: Sometimes, you'd never dream of being friends with someone, especially the most annoying person in Antarctica ... until you get stuck with them in another galaxy.
This is a wonderful story that I find incredibly hard to describe. It's about John and Rodney's friendship, and it's just so *right*. I'm reduced to 'go, read'...
Benched by cesperanza
Sheppard/McKay; 12,500 words
Rodned gets kidnapped and John is forced to sit out the rescue mission... not something he's good at. At all.
Time in a Bottle by astolat
14,361 words; Rating: M?
To see a World in a Grain of Sand / And a Heaven in a Wild Flower / Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand / And Eternity in an hour.
Summary: John and Rodney get trapped in a virtual environment that Rodney created.
I love this fic - fascinating premise, incredibly well written and complex - the way the plot progresses, organically and logically... it drew me in completely, right inside the characters' heads (it felt downright claustrophobic at first). Wonderful story.
Your Inevitable Unhappy Ending by helenish
The fifth time didn't count, because everyone on M5X-251 thought Rodney was sexy
14.610 words; McKay/Sheppard; R
Warnings: title very possibly misleading
--Years in the future, Atlantis is being completely cut off from Earth and the Lanteans are struggling to survive. John falls in love with Rodney but he knows he'll fuck things up. Character-driven story with great background detail.
All Our Yesterdays Will Haunt You by kajikia
Characters: team
Rating: R; 5,100 words, general season two spoilers
Summary: "So it's like our own personal Groundhog Day?" "But with a civil war and a Wraith culling, yes."
A time loop fic with quick-paced action and a clever explanation for the loop.
MVP by cesperanza
McKay/Sheppard, NC-17 (guessing); 12,000 words; for the SGA_Flashfic "Post Secret" challenge
He surfed over to Elizabeth's personnel file, which was full of expansive and fulsome testimony to her stellar character and immense diplomatic talents by superiors, colleagues, and even former adversaries. Rodney skimmed a few letters, then got bored with all the good will and flipped over to Colonel Sheppard's personnel record-and if Elizabeth's file was bubbling with praise and esteem, Sheppard's was a different story entirely.
When sneaking around the personnel files McKay sees something in Sheppard's psych profile that causes him to freak. Sheppard notices, but misinterprets completely...
This fic strikes just the right balance between lighthearted and dramatic.
Yes Sir, That's My Baby by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney; SG1/SGA; PG-13; 6313 words
Spoilers: No spoilers past the end of season three Atlantis, season ten SG1. Specific references to events in 'The Road Not Taken' and 'Unending'.
Summary: She's pregnant, and it's complicated.
I don't exactly seek out babyfic. In fact, putting the word "baby" in a summary is a safe way to make me back off slowly and shut the window. But I adore McKay/Carter so I checked this one out, and I really liked it. It's cute, it's fluff, the dialog is really on and, yeah... this one's fun, I enjoyed it. I also like the basic idea a lot.snippet: His face had been falling rapidly as she spoke and he suddenly blurted out, "I hate children!"
"Okay," she replied dubiously.
"They're tiny," he said, "And weird. And you can't employ anything approaching logic with them. I mean, this one's all right so far, but the fact that she represents some sort of legacy which, unlike my life's work, I have absolutely no control over but that people will look at and for some reason associate with me - frankly, it's incredibly disturbing. What if she likes loud, popular music, or ponies, or... other children?"
Charting The Motion Of Planets by Dasha
McKay/Sheppard Pre-Slash; Action, Angst, Drama; Season 2; PG; length: 60K
Summary: On a 'need to know' basis, he probably needed to need to know a little more.
Rodney gets captured by the Genii and, knowing that he won't stand up to torture, decides that suicide is his only possible option. Interesting twist right in the beginning, and the characterizations really ring true.
Flawed by mandysbitch
Sheppard/McKay; 12,500 words; post-Trinity
Summary: “Rodney's been thinking about disasters lately.”
Rodney and Sheppard discover a strange Ancient cloning experiment. Rodney tries to come to terms with his guilt issues after screwing up spectacularly.
I love how everything resonates, how themes and plot and characterization just click together. The slighty... almost dazed Rodney voice really fits the mood of the story. I enjoyed it immensely.
four boots, five thousand two hundred and eighty feet by Pares
Sheppard/McKay; NC17; 9,200 words
Summary: "So what you're saying is, learning to love yourself really is the greatest love of all!"
I love bodyswap stories when they're done well, it's one of my favorite fanfic tropes (along with time loop and time travel). The voices in this fic are great and you can practically *see* them in each other's body. So much fun to watch it play out.
Swap Meet by Madison
gen; PG 13; 10189 words; season 1; Characters: team, Weir
Summary: The team returns from an off-world mission in a very different condition than when they left the city...
Madison is gleefully exploring the bodyswap theme, which makes for a fun read.
de profundis - up from the depths ( lj-link) by agentotter
Sam/Rodney; PG; 6,200 words; Post GUP.
Summary: Rodney has been chasing the idea of Sam Carter all day.
A day in the life of McKay. Cute and fun story, spot-on Rodney voice. Agentotter writes great Sam/Rodney interaction.
snippet: Carson nods and puts his hands in the pockets of his lab coat, and since when did it become Let's All Torture Rodney Day? "Zelenka's been giving her a tour," he says. "Lovely girl. I can see why you're so fixated. Er, attracted." He corrects himself in a way that isn't correction, like he's trying to be politically correct in a very obvious way, just to screw with Rodney's mind.
A question of perspective Or Reality Doesn't Always Come in Second to Fantasy by eretria
(The sequel to Nobody does it better or Rodney McKay and the Really Feisty Harem)
8680 words; Rating: mature; McKay/Carter; Spoilers: Pegasus Project
Summary: "You know,” McKay says, eventually, “it’s a good thing I’m an old-school gentleman. Anybody else would have taken advantage of this situation.”
Christmas in the Holly Free Zone by friendshipper
Summary: It's the first Christmas on Atlantis. Sheppard's a candy cane, Kavanagh's an elf, Heightmeyer has a cunning plan to build team spirit, Elizabeth has a headache and Rodney's just boycotting the whole thing. Humor, friendship. 11,439 words, season one
Okay, maybe 'tis not yet the proper season to rec this, but I just read it today and wanted to share the, um, Christmas joy immediately.
"C'mon, Elizabeth, cut 'em some slack. We've been living in a combat zone for months; everyone's in a ... what would the psychobabble be ... heightened state of combat readiness, or something." Sheppard snagged himself a couple of cookies, looked at the pudding for a minute and then gave it a pass. "Besides, the party's in, what, twenty-four hours? I don't think they have time to go completely insane."
Elizabeth sighed as she sat down. "I really wish you hadn't said that."
short fic/ficlets:
I have finally found a McKay/Keller story!
A Time to Heal by wildcat88
McKay/Keller; spoilers: The Last Man; PG; 3,200 words
Summary: Circumstances and a three week journey put everything in a different light.
This is a missing scene fic from TLM that fits seamlessly into the episode. Just what I was looking for after watching that ep.
Godzilla vs. Tokyo by sundancekid
PG-13; Character/Pairing(s): Rodney, John/Rodney, Atlantis; 2,356 words
Summary: In fact, the most serious challenge seems to be the city itself. Herself? Himself? The city does appear to be gay for Sheppard.
snippet: Right in the middle of writing a very important program to reduce the city's power use, his computer gets the blue screen of death. Nothing. For some reason, his last two saves hadn't automatically been sent to his spare laptop, either, or to the external hard drive in his lab. All that work, gone. And this is his personal computer, so his Batman episodes, his unfinished autobiography, his porn music, all gone.
"OK," Rodney yells, shaking his fist at the ceiling. "This is it. This is war."
I'm Taking This Loop Off by toomuchplor
John/Rodney; PG-13; Spoilers: none; Length: 1600 words
Summary: „I’m almost positive that this crap never happened to General O’Neill.“
Genitive of Absence by Mad Maudlin
gen; PG; 1,700 words
Summary: Of all the things he's been subjected to, Rodney deeply resents the Russian language. AU of "Redemption"
love the atmosphere.
Knievel the Mighty and the Eye of the Gods by lavvyan
Sheppard/McKay; R; 1,500 words; Warnings: Bitextual, crack, geekiness
Summary: "You stole all the good stuff from WoW, didn't you?"
"Shut up and play, Sheppard."
The Ninja Logs {File #001} by of-evangeline
Crack. Gen; G; 907 words
Summary: John's POV. The voices in my head tell me not to ask how, but to just believe.
Songs of Athos by friendshipper
Gen; 3,000 words
Summary: Teyla discovers Earth music -- and rediscovers her own.
The tie that binds, or, Rodney McKay does not have a lucky tie by minnow1212
Gen; 2,540 words
Summary: Five snippets about Rodney's very ugly tie. 2,540 words
I love the way these five snippets are tied together (heh). Great character piece, beautifully structured.
No More Quasi-Religious Alien Sex Rituals by icarusancalion
John/Rodney; PG-13; 3,500 words
Summary: John desperately tries to bail himself out of trouble.
As much fun as the title would suggest :)
Stories of Murder and Woe by rhymer23 (Ways to die challenge)
summary (author's): For stories of murder and woe, that kill all our friends from the show,
Where death is the norm, in a limerick form,
Just click on the link there below.
But, reader, before you proceed, ensure that these warnings you read:
There's Death! but no kissing, and spoilers are missing*;
It's PG (so, parents, take heed.)
So. very. Awesome. Caldwell's my favorite. McKay's and Carter's cracked me up. Very funny, the lot of them. (To my shame I must admit that I only got Chuck's on second reading...)
Twelve Things They (Will Someday) Say in the Pegasus Galaxy by minnow1212
gen; futurefic; 2,800 words
Summary: They say you can’t spot the Wraithborn, but they’re wrong. There’s always something that gives them away. Something around the eyes. Something about the hands. Something about the smile.
The kind of urban legends they will tell in the Pegasus galaxy - and these legends in turn tell a story. Very cool concept.
Free 'Verse by dashamte/Dasha
Gen; Minor warning for language and violence, 3,755 words
Summary: Rodney. Sam. Gardening instructions. Physics. Oh, and also muggers.
--McKay and Carter bonding over Physics is the way to this reader's heart...
Whatever Can Go Wrong by friendshipper
Summary: Babysitting as a teen, Elizabeth learned that when kids are noisy, everything is okay. When they get quiet ... that's when you know they're up to something. Unfortunately, she is about to learn the same is true of scientists. 3,010 words; gen; humor
... had me giggling like a maniac.
rodney mckay is a very bad manager by synecdochic
author's note: I justify myself by saying that it was performance reviews month. Warning for gratuitous use of Word documents. For the Documentation Challenge.
--Hilarious and very Rodney
Five Impossible Things Rodney McKay Did Before Breakfast by laceymcbain
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; Season 1, sometime after "The Storm."; ~4700 words
Summary: Rodney hates that this is the day he’s going to disappoint everyone, and it’s little consolation he probably won’t be around to deal with the fall-out.
“Yeah, well, the good of the many ...”
“This isn’t Star Trek, Rodney! I’m not playing that scene with you-”
An overloading grounding station, a race against time. Excellent action fic.
Care Packages by auburnnothenna and eretria
SGA/SG-1 xover, gen, team, humor, rated PG-13; 4,800 words
Summary: Sam has a sick sense of humor, John doesn't fish, Teal'c watches QVC,Rodney never did see the end of The Sixth Sense, Elizabeth says 'We are not amused', Daniel ate the cookies and Jack is bored.
This story brought a big grin to my face. Sam/McKay, sortakinda...
While You Were Out by Mad Maudlin
Summary: The last thing John remembered was exploding. 1,893 words
"I'll explain it all after coffee." Rodney stopped short in the hallway. "Oh my god. I cut off diplomatic ties with our only source of coffee, didn't I?"
A Slip of the Tongue by agentotter
McKay/Carter; PG
Summary: The first time Rodney kissed Samantha Carter, it was entirely by accident.
Triptych by Mad Maudlin
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay; PG-13; 4,799 words
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, AU
(sort of a follow-up to the SG1 ep 'Moebius', IIRC)
Summary: Matter can neither be created nor destroyed
Everything's connected... made my head spin, in a good way.
Spin Me Right Round by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney; PG-13; 3,500 words
Summary: It's the worst date ever. And that's before the zombies show up.
A Few Things Sam Doesn't Want Anyone to Know About Her and Rodney Mckay by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney (but not really); PG; 1,200 words
Summary: A few things Sam doesn't want anyone to know about her and Rodney Mckay, and a few other things that Rodney would be only too happy to share about his (non-existent) relationship with Samantha Carter, if anyone actually cared enough to listen.
snippet: She's thought about what it would be like. Once or twice. Or maybe more, back when she first met him and hated the very sight of him.
Back then, she thought about pinning him down and doing... things. Like forcing an entire lemon down his throat. Or listening to him insult her intelligence and then forcing an entire lemon down his throat. Possibly while one or both of them were naked.
She doesn't know whether this makes her a masochist or a sadist. Probably a bit of both.
Now, she just thinks about the many different ways she could get him to admit, over and over again, how much smarter than him she is. She thinks about how pleasant the process could be.
But she's only thought about it once or twice. Briefly. She's not obsessed or anything.
One Life to Ascend To by rageprufrock
The Lanteans discover Ancient soap operas. 4,300 words, PG
"I can't believe he ascended the baby," Dr. Kavanagh says.
Coming Soon to a Galaxy Near You! by trinityofone
McKay/Sheppard; R; 4300 words; humor
Summary: “You’re not the least bit disturbed by this?” John asked. Rodney shrugged. “Well, I’d have preferred a Coffee Bean, but...”
Starbucks, on Atlantis. Doing that thing that they do.
Earth on a Shoestring (Remix of $173.23) by friendshipper
Team, gen; 3000 words
Roadtrip with aliens."Grapes," Rodney said, shoving a handful at him. "You can sample the grapes. Not the eggplants. God."
Anger Management by friendshipper
Gen; Characters: Sheppard, Heightmeyer; 1,500 words
Summary: Conventional Earth therapy doesn't work so well in the Pegasus Galaxy, Kate discovers.
Fantastic characterization of Sheppard in the aftermath of 'Phantoms' and 'Common Ground'
snippet: "If you're too tired, John, we could continue this tomorrow," she said, and he jumped, yanking his gaze back to her face.
"Nope, I'm good." Too quick, maybe? He tried to read her face, but as always, her true feelings were hidden behind the professional mask. In honesty, he was tired, and scatterbrained; the feeling reminded him of being drugged, and it scared him, scared the hell out of him, although Carson said he didn't seem to have any of the enzyme in his system. Words like electrolytes and messed-up metabolism had been bandied about, along with more ominous words behind his back, words that could ground a pilot: depression, PTSD, obsession.
Regrets, I've Had a Few by sp23
Rodney/Sam NC-17ish; ~1100 words
Summary: Sometimes, you do things in the heat of the moment you live to regret. But then sometimes, you don't.
Ships in the Night by friendshipper
513 words; gen
Summary: Sam couldn't fix a whole universe, but maybe she could help make one thing right.
Great missing scene for The Road Not Taken.
The Beauty of Flight by synecdochic
Anyone who's ever flown commercial should be getting flashbacks when reading this ficlet. ;)
Grammatology by aesc
written for sga_flashfic's wordless challenge
Characters: John/Rodney (implied), other; PGish; 3,500 words
Summary: Lost words, lost time, lost city.
Pieces of a puzzle coming together - fascinating take on the challenge.
Land Shark by basingstoke
975 words
Well. Hell with this. John was the pilot, he was the samurai here. Time to cut the counter in half.
He put both hands on the dash and talked to the jumper as directly as he could. Jumper? Baby? Light of my life?
Important: Do Not Kill The Scientist by spike21
(Documentation Challenge); short; Rated: S for silly and P for pornless
Acts of Contrition by agentotter
Sam/Rodney; rated PG for Pretty Gushy; 4,500 words
Summary: When the engines start purring, when the Ancient warship Helios stirs and shudders like a cat stretching out after a ten-thousand-year nap, when the systems all start coming online at once and Rodney's crack team of highly trained scientists are in the engine room squealing like a high school pep squad, Rodney is down the hall in a utility closet.
Torn by fiareynne
Carter/McKay; PG-13; General spoilers for SGA s4; shortThe first time it happens, she tells herself it’s a fluke. It’s very different here, and she’s lonely. They start bickering, like old times, and it’s comfortable, like a pair of jeans you’ve washed a hundred times. Before she knows what’s going on, they’re in her bed and McKay’s got that smug, satisfied look he gets when he’s won an argument, even though she’s fairly certain she got the last word in before things went non-verbal. When he leaves, she gathers her blouse, torn in their haste, and she swears to herself it won’t happen again.
And Jacob Loved Rachel by meyerlemon
Pairing: McKay/Sam. Sort of.
comics/cartoons/illustrated fic:
Rodney McKay's Scrapbook of Death by Moonloon
note: graphics-heavy
"Wait... you've had death threats?"
"Of course I have, Colonel. Any idiot can go though life without offending people."
"And you kept them?"
anna_luna made a beautiful piece about Rodney and music: Rodney's Life
medium: paper cut
I really can't imagine there being a more creative fandom out there.
An Elepant Story (spelling intentional) by tardis80
McShep; Rating, um, PG-ish?, no S4 spoilers
Summary: But Rodney had forgotten that this was the Pegasus galaxy and everyone was out to get him...
The Pegasus Tinies: A Dreadful Abecedarium, with Selected Illustrations by argosy and _kiden
(for sga_flashfic's Ways to Die Challenge)
Edward Gorey pastiche. Macabre and adorable and funny, with neat illustrations and a Tim Burtonesque flair. Did I mention that I love this fandom? Love!
posted to sga_art_santa: And I Have Known [edit: new working link for the image]
Really, really good. One of my favorite pieces of SGA fanart. I'm curious who did this... don't recognize the style. [eta: itsychick is the artist]
Zelenkamatch.com, story by lillyjk, artwork by newkidfan
A photo comic. :) I'd actually been wondering why no one ever seems to be doing comic based on screencaps instead of handdrawn artwork. This is beautifully executed and the dialog and caps are just hilarious. Hey, I have no idea who any of these characters are, and I was still chuckling throughout. Really worth checking out even if you're not in the fandom.
A Bed Too Small by liketheriverrun
Nine pages of graphics; McKay/Sheppard, Rating: T; Category: Slash/silliness.
Characters: McKay, Sheppard (with a smidgen of the others)
Summary: The epic tale of how John and Rodney fell in love and fell out of bed.
Totally cracked me up. It's shiny and funny and all around awesome. ♥
Postcards to Jeannie by friendshipper
Contains spoilers for the Season 3 episode "McKay & Mrs. Miller". Also, pictures.
Pictures for Jeannie by friendshipper
Word Count: n/a (pictures); G; gen; Spoilers: mild ones for McKay & Mrs Miller, Return
Summary: Teyla wants to share her galaxy with Jeannie through photographs. The boys want to get hit with large sticks, apparently.
See John Run! by rhymer23 ( lj-link)
So wrong. So very very wrong. :D (fic comes with illustrations)
vids:
'Sandman' by lim
download it | watch it on imeem
Doppelganger episode vid. McShep. Song by Gob.
This vid blends comic, animation, and real life video and the result is AMAZING. Seriously, guys, you've got to watch this vid. It's like a comic book come to life, and it's stunningly beautiful.
Stargate Atlantis: The video game by starrylizard
Gen; character: McKay; no S4 spoilers
Summary: Someone is trying to play the SGA video game.
Cupid vs. McShep by pyrateanny
Summary: Rodney and John each call on Cupid for help, but this particular Archer of Love seems a bit inept.
Cracks me up every time I watch it. Very cute.
And Hewlett in the role of Cupid... words fail, really. :D
For the shark challenge at sga_flashfic:
"Rumble" by astolat and cesperanza
download, imeem
Sharks vs Jets - West Side Story in Atlantis. It's hilarious and perfectly timed. And heh, those lyrics strangely fit. Very cool vid.
My Brilliant Idea by lim (download link)
I'm utterly in love with Lim's fandom vid Us; lost count of the number of times I've re-watched it. So I checked this one out even though I never watched an episode of SGA and usually don't read fic or watch vids for shows I don't know - they tend to just not do much for me, no matter how technically perfect they may be. But this clicked for me right away. It's so quirky and original, and the characters are so engaging that I'm all set on giving SGA a try next time it's on... and, well, it's technically perfect. It meshes graphics and clips in a way that works great for the story.
Also interesting how completely different the formal language in MBI is from that in "Us"... gah, I'm in awe.
I am/Lamb by lim
music: The Mercy Seat by Johnny Cash
A visually stunning vid that offers a look into the mind of John Sheppard. I know zilch about vidding technique but I thought it has a great use of special effects - they're very effective in creating a particular mood without being obtrusive.
Dreams by newkidfan
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard; Rating: PG; Spoilers: none (footage from seasons one and two only)
Fascinating vid. Unusual in that it uses stock material not just from the show but from other sources as well, with great results.
Written By The Victors: The Vid by queenzulu
Constructed reality, absolutely convincing. I've watched it repeatedly already; it's so cool to watch the story come to life in pictures.
This is How it Works by lim (download link)
(vid made for "Freedom's Just Another Word...")
I think this vid manages to perfectly reflect the sentiment of the story - it conveys the same conflicting emotions of sadness, loss, hope, and love... making the best of your life, without regrets, without letting the fear of loss stop you from loving, from living. The lyrics match the story beautifully and the visuals grip you. It's hard to shake this one off but then, I didn't really want to.
4 Ways to Defeat the Wraith Through Good Health, part 2 by Zoe Trope (vid, imeem link)
Stargate Atlantis - A Mini Adventure! by fraffledragon. An animated vid in four parts (youtube link)
meta/recs:
A priest, a rabbi, and an ATA user walk into a bar . . . " by thingswithwings and eruthros
Jokes they tell on Atlantis... frikkin' hilarious!
The SGA Project, a.k.a., "Flavor Of The Year." by icarusancalion
The goal: Give readers a taste of 2006 Stargate fandom, provide a rec-list with context, a description of intertexts, and explanation. (slanted toward Sheppard/McKay)
Not just a great recs list and a way for the fandom newbie to get up to speed, but an interesting view at the creative interaction in Stargate fandom, not just with the canon text but with other fannish works. Very cool.
by thefourthvine: Fandoms I Have Loved 10: Stargate: Atlantis
Wraith, ZPMs, Sheppard's hair and everything else you wanted to know about Stargate: Atlantis
Last updated April 4, 2008 [post was reaching length limit so I had to split it. More recs here: recs part II | recs part III
novel length | long/multichapter fics | medium length | short fic/ficlets | comics/cartoons/illustrated fic | vids | meta/recs
novel length:
Maybe I'm Dead, I Just Haven't Stopped Moving Yet by cybersyd42
Gen; Rodney-centric... plus team, Zelenka, Becket, Carter (xover with SG-1); set in early S3; 118,400 words
summary: The consequences of a mission gone wrong have a devastating impact on the SGA team.
I read this story practically non-stop, except for the part where I had to put it down last night in order to catch some sleep. Then this morning I skipped breakfast, postponed work, and went straight back to the story.
Not what you'd call a fluffy read; the characters are put through the emotional wringer, and so's the reader. And at the same time this story is satisfying and uplifting, not to mention gripping. The emotional conflicts are entirely believable, the plot and the background detail are great. Fantastic fic.
White walls by Eildon Rhymer (rhymer23)
Gen; Angst; rated T for some violent imagery and general psychological darkness, though there's nothing graphic. Spoilers: through Reunion; 57,000 words.
Summary: Four went out, and three came back. Sheppard has vanished, and the rest of his team lies injured. By the time they recover, the trail has gone cold. As Sheppard and his team fight their own separate battles for hope and survival, the true danger may be different from what any of them expect.
In the beginning I almost stopped reading this fic since it seemed to veer in a direction much darker than I like in my fic. In the end I'm really glad I kept reading, that was a fantastic story that stayed with me after reading. I thought the premise was fascinating, and explored in a very convincing way.
Written By The Victors by cesperanza
The fic that's eating fandom - the story of Atlantis' secession from Earth, told partly in the form of excerpts from historical texts as well as traditional narrative. Incredibly satisfying and complex, just go read! (if you haven't already; you probably have but I can't not mention it :) 55,000 words
and Written By The Victors: The Vid by queenzulu
Constructed reality, absolutely convincing. I've watched it repeatedly already; it's so cool to watch the story come to life in pictures.
Salt Of The Earth by Dasha
Gen; 75,000 words; McKay-centric, but nonetheless very much a team fic. Rating: R (I'm guessing for violence/medical gore) to PG-13
Summary: Rodney has almost everything he wants
One of the best h/c stories I've read, and one of my favorite fics in SGA fandom. Rodney gets severely injured offworld, and the story focuses on his convalescence. A 75,000 word story about McKay recovering from a stomach wound... and there's not one redundant sentence. It's a well-rounded story with interesting subplots, rich background detail, and fantastic characterization, not just of McKay.
snippet: Rodney found himself sitting in the pilot's seat. On the best days, this made him a little sweaty. Instead of taking the other seat, Sheppard stood just behind him, a strong hand on Rodney's shoulder. "You'll be fine. This is jumper 7. She likes you."
There was something in his voice. Something satisfied and happy. It occurred to him then that this wasn't the usual tease about Rodney's flying. This was a present. If Sheppard had spent the better part of a month in the infirmary, *this* was what he'd be longing for. After just a few days, he'd be aching to sit in this seat again. He couldn't really believe that Rodney hadn't missed it at all. This was an attempt to help. Sheppard thought it would help a lot.
Running on Empty by friendshipper
Season/spoilers: Season 2, before "Michael"
Gen; Rating: T; Genre: Action/adventure, angst, friendship; 89,323 words
Summary: Sheppard and McKay are captured by Wraith, implanted with trackers and released to run and die.
Rodney and Sheppard are dumped on a hostile terrain and - hunted by Wraith, against insurmountable odds - have to McGyver their way out of it. Thanks to this fic, the recent plane ride to California went by like that *snips*, so caught up was I in the story. Extremely gripping read!
That Which is Broken by friendshipper
Gen; 60,000 words; "Trinity" tag; Genre: Drama, action, angst, h/c, friendship, teamfic
Teyla notices the rift between Sheppard and McKay and comes up with a plan to set things right - which is when things start to go really wrong.
Best post-Trinity fic I've read! There's not a hint of Woobie!Rodney, thankfully... all the characterizations are fantastic, the clash between Rodney and John entirely believable, and particularly Teyla's alien-ness and her unique view of things come across really well. Plus, great plot.
Ghost in the Machine by sholio/friendshipper
summary: Sheppard and McKay are trapped on a world with a malfunctioning Stargate, a monster ... and a mystery.
Gen; 48,000 words; spoilers: through early S3; Rating: T/PG-13; Genre: Action/adventure, h/c, horror, suspense
--both suspenseful and moving.
Failure to Communicate by tipper
Gen; 56,972 words; Characters: Rodney, John, Ronon, Teyla, Elizabeth
Summary: The Team, including Weir, get trapped in the middle of a civil war on another world. In the beginning, McKay's badly hurt, Sheppard's running out of options, and the clock is ticking for the others sentenced to be hanged in the morning.
Great plotty action-adventure, complete with a pretty spectacular motorcycle chase. Just as good on second reading.
long/multichapter fics:
Theory of Everything by rheanna27
John/Rodney; R; 21,000 words
summary "Maybe it's just regular, good old fashioned burnout," John suggested, although he knew in his heart he was clutching at straws. "Maybe all you need is a vacation."
"'Maybe all you need is a vacation'," Rodney parroted. "Please. I'm not stupid, you know." Then he looked stricken. "I'm not stupid yet."
Brilliant take on the 'Flowers For Algernon' theme... very cleverly, evocatively written, in a way that you actually feel what would otherwise be abstract concepts. This story made me smile, made me tear up, and sucked me in completely. An absolute joy to read... heartbreaking, but in the very best way.
Follow the Sun to the Ends of the World by friendshipper/Sholio
Characters: Rodney (main), Sheppard, Ronon, Keller, Weir, Heightmeyer
Sunday spoilers. 17,265 words
Summary: In the aftermath of Sunday, no one is dealing well, least of all Rodney. But what if an Ancient device can give him back what he's lost?
This story adds a whole new dimension to that final scene of 'Sunday'. It's easy to imagine this as a missing part of the canon, one that was mostly glossed over on the show. The emotions, the pain of loss are downright palpable, and the plot is excellent.
Close Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades by smittywing
Rating: NC-17; McKay/Sheppard; Spoilers: Season One; Length: ~16,000 words
Summary: It should have been a brilliant arrangement. Sex that didn't count was vastly superior to no sex at all and had the added benefit of no attachments and no expectations.
It was really kind of pissing John off.
The New Atlantean Dictionary of Literary Terms: A Complete Reference in Four Volumes by thingswithwings
Pairings: John/Rodney, Teyla/Heightmeyer, and others; Rating: NC-17; Words: ~19 000
Original, with a structure that's very intricate and clever (but never detracts from the flow of the narrative)... ficlets and threads, woven together to form a picture.
snippet: Their first mission after John returns to field work is pretty much a milk run. John doesn’t mind, though, because P8N-2Z3 is all green and rolling fields lined with copses of wild trees and pools of bright flowers, as if it was terraformed by Tolkien. They’ve been here before and managed not to make a complete mess of it, so they’re greeted with cheerful smiles and waves and the kind of children who stick to your legs.
Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose by synecdochic
Spoilers: Through Season 2 and conjecture for the future.
Summary: SGC finally stops calling him by December. Rodney celebrates by writing a final exam for his relativity class so difficult that it reduces four students to tears in the exam hall. Upon reflection, he decides to be merciful and offer partial credit.
19,350 words
Achingly beautiful, this is one of the best pieces of fanfic I've ever read, across fandoms. I saw this story rec'd in several places but was at first hesitant to read it, because I knew it involved major character death. But that's not what this story is about. For me, it's about hope (if I want to put it in one word, which I really can't because it wouldn't do it justice). The prose is clear and perfect, and the plot drew me in right from the first paragraph. I had a knot in my stomach the entire time while reading it, and was incapable of putting it down.
and the band's playing "hail to the chief" by synecdochic
Set ten years after synecdochic's Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose, this is a satisfying coda to a wonderful story.
On a similar note, there's a vid made by lim to accompany "Freedom": This is How it Works . (download link) I think this vid manages to perfectly reflect the sentiment of the story - it conveys the same conflicting emotions of sadness, loss, hope, and love... making the best of your life, without regrets, without letting the fear of loss stop you from loving, from living. The lyrics match the story beautifully and the visuals grip you. It's hard to shake this one off but then, I didn't really want to.
Rebuilding Babel by the_drifter (fiercelydreamed)
Summary: He wondered if this was how it felt to go crazy -- you didn't lose your mind, it just stopped synching up with the world around you. The Pegasus galaxy makes Rodney an expert in what he can survive without.
21,000 words, Sheppard/McKay [story is for the most part gen, though], Spoilers through S2.
I nearly didn't read this fic, because stories in which a main character suffers disability of any kind are usually too dark for my taste. But then I followed a rec from stargateficrec and, wow, so glad I did.
This was written for the sga_flashfic's wordless challenge: McKay gets poisoned offworld, suffers brain damage and loses his ability to process words. There is no magical reset button, just ways he finally deals with his aphasia, and how that happens is utterly fascinating to read. Also amazing how the_drifter gets into his mind and conveys the wordlessness of his communications.
I'm keeping it vague 'cause I don't want to give away any of the plot... which is exciting and original, and really intense. There are so many memorable scenes in this, I can't even say which is my favorite one. snippet (spoilerish for the fic): Sheppard tilted his head curiously -- what's up? -- and Rodney had the uncharacteristic urge to, he didn't know, hug him or something, but that was in clear violation of the buddy code of conduct. After a few seconds of vacillation, he finally lifted both hands in a helpless gesture, grasping at the empty air, and just passed Sheppard the whole jumbled ball of it, amazement and relief and gratitude so intense it was almost gravitational.
Sheppard's head jerked back in surprise, and he stared at Rodney, who felt himself redden, because that was probably a bit much to drop on someone without warning. He was just starting to wish he'd gone with the hug instead when Sheppard's expression shifted into something less guarded, though no easier to read. He sent Rodney a brief, concise image: Sheppard in his quarters, looking penned in and mutely miserable, and Rodney shoving his way in with the device held out in one hand. You'd have done the same for me, it meant, and it wasn't a question.
Candle in the Dark by friendshipper
Summary: Injured and trapped underground with a killer robot, Sheppard and McKay must rely on each other to survive.; 26,000 words; gen
Season/spoilers: Season 2 or 3; no real spoilers; Rating: T; Genre: Action/adventure
--Page-turner with spot-on dialogue and a rather scary killer robot.
Plumber's Helper by friendshipper
Summary: As if the Wraith aren’t bad enough, now the Atlantean plumbing is broken. Set during and after Rising. Early Sheppard McKay friendship, but most of the other characters get to play too.; 27,435 words; gen
--Great banter and a fun, original plot (possibly the first fic I read that deals with the issue of plumbing). The city of Atlantis is a character in its own right, really, and it's great to see more glimpses of it here.
Bait and Switch by Madison
Sheppard/McKay; NC-17; 21732 words
Characters: Elizabeth Weir, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan
Summary: John and Rodney learn the hard way what it means to 'walk a mile' in each other's shoes...
After messing around with yet another ancient device, Sheppard and McKay end up stuck in each other's body...and with their brain. I love bodyswap fics and what makes this one particularly intriguing is the thought that personality and thought patterns are after all rooted in the physiology - this fic gleefully explores that idea in a fun way.
Ways to Die in the Pegasus Galaxy by crysothemis
Mckay/Sheppard, Rating: light NC-17 [author's; I'd give it a light R], 18,000 words
Warnings: action, snuggling, obtuseness, gratuitous hair abuse
Summary: Since when was sleeping together -- really, just sleeping -- some kind of a kink?
Sheppard finds McKay asleep in his bed whenever he's had a brush with death ... and soon throws himself into one life-threatening situation after the next.
I absolutely heart this fic, it put the dorkiest smile on my face. It's got great humor, action, and a perfectly-paced build up of the relationship (with both of them firmly adhering to the motto 'better living thru denial').
Nobody does it better or Rodney McKay and the Really Feisty Harem by eretria
Rating: R; 33071 words; Genre: Crossover, team, humor, action, *gasp* het.
[still, I'm sorting this one under Gen. Mostly Gen. With some (a lot of) kissing, and delightful McKay/Carter UST.]
Summary: In which everyone loves Rodney (and shows it), Vala is a stowaway with a decided interest in certain pilots, John is smart, Sam is flummoxed, Daniel is jealous, Ronon and Teyla realise all Earth people are peculiar, and Elizabeth is reminded that guests are like fish.
(I much prefer this fic to 'The Pegasus Project'...)
Finagle's Quake by Perri Smith
Characters: Rodney, Teyla, and team; gen; 18,834 words
Summary: Buried alive with a teammate on an alien world, and something outside just might blow up the planet. It's a very bad day in the Pegasus galaxy, even by Rodney's impressive standards.
medium length:
Necessary Things by minnow1212
Characters: McKay POV, team, Zelenka
10,770 words; PG
summary: in which McKay's quest for the contents of Kavanagh's iPod leads him into deeper waters than he expected.
This fic starts with McKay trying to get Kavanagh to share his music collection, and somehow ends being about a lot more. Gorgeous writing, great characterization. About music and friendship and other necessary things.
Granted, not having a wide selection of music wasn't the biggest problem in the world, or even the biggest problem in Rodney's life. It was possible, he conceded, that he was devoting a disproportionate amount of energy to it. On the other hand, it was a problem with a clearly-defined goal, and one without risk of death or dismemberment in achieving that goal, and Rodney appreciated having that sort of problem.
Also, giving up now would mean that Kavanagh would win.
So Little Space, So Much Time by liketheriverrun
Team fic; Gen; Image-heavy
Summary: Trapped in a downed Jumper, the team has to deal with an injured Sheppard as well as each other, which is harder than it seems.
Cabin fever fic, claustrophobic and cleverly done. The graphics are the dot on the I.
Between the Lines by friendshipper
gen; PG; 6500 words; Characters: John and Rodney; Spoilers: through "Doppelganger"
Summary: Sometimes, you'd never dream of being friends with someone, especially the most annoying person in Antarctica ... until you get stuck with them in another galaxy.
This is a wonderful story that I find incredibly hard to describe. It's about John and Rodney's friendship, and it's just so *right*. I'm reduced to 'go, read'...
Benched by cesperanza
Sheppard/McKay; 12,500 words
Rodned gets kidnapped and John is forced to sit out the rescue mission... not something he's good at. At all.
Time in a Bottle by astolat
14,361 words; Rating: M?
To see a World in a Grain of Sand / And a Heaven in a Wild Flower / Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand / And Eternity in an hour.
Summary: John and Rodney get trapped in a virtual environment that Rodney created.
I love this fic - fascinating premise, incredibly well written and complex - the way the plot progresses, organically and logically... it drew me in completely, right inside the characters' heads (it felt downright claustrophobic at first). Wonderful story.
Your Inevitable Unhappy Ending by helenish
The fifth time didn't count, because everyone on M5X-251 thought Rodney was sexy
14.610 words; McKay/Sheppard; R
Warnings: title very possibly misleading
--Years in the future, Atlantis is being completely cut off from Earth and the Lanteans are struggling to survive. John falls in love with Rodney but he knows he'll fuck things up. Character-driven story with great background detail.
All Our Yesterdays Will Haunt You by kajikia
Characters: team
Rating: R; 5,100 words, general season two spoilers
Summary: "So it's like our own personal Groundhog Day?" "But with a civil war and a Wraith culling, yes."
A time loop fic with quick-paced action and a clever explanation for the loop.
MVP by cesperanza
McKay/Sheppard, NC-17 (guessing); 12,000 words; for the SGA_Flashfic "Post Secret" challenge
He surfed over to Elizabeth's personnel file, which was full of expansive and fulsome testimony to her stellar character and immense diplomatic talents by superiors, colleagues, and even former adversaries. Rodney skimmed a few letters, then got bored with all the good will and flipped over to Colonel Sheppard's personnel record-and if Elizabeth's file was bubbling with praise and esteem, Sheppard's was a different story entirely.
When sneaking around the personnel files McKay sees something in Sheppard's psych profile that causes him to freak. Sheppard notices, but misinterprets completely...
This fic strikes just the right balance between lighthearted and dramatic.
Yes Sir, That's My Baby by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney; SG1/SGA; PG-13; 6313 words
Spoilers: No spoilers past the end of season three Atlantis, season ten SG1. Specific references to events in 'The Road Not Taken' and 'Unending'.
Summary: She's pregnant, and it's complicated.
I don't exactly seek out babyfic. In fact, putting the word "baby" in a summary is a safe way to make me back off slowly and shut the window. But I adore McKay/Carter so I checked this one out, and I really liked it. It's cute, it's fluff, the dialog is really on and, yeah... this one's fun, I enjoyed it. I also like the basic idea a lot.snippet: His face had been falling rapidly as she spoke and he suddenly blurted out, "I hate children!"
"Okay," she replied dubiously.
"They're tiny," he said, "And weird. And you can't employ anything approaching logic with them. I mean, this one's all right so far, but the fact that she represents some sort of legacy which, unlike my life's work, I have absolutely no control over but that people will look at and for some reason associate with me - frankly, it's incredibly disturbing. What if she likes loud, popular music, or ponies, or... other children?"
Charting The Motion Of Planets by Dasha
McKay/Sheppard Pre-Slash; Action, Angst, Drama; Season 2; PG; length: 60K
Summary: On a 'need to know' basis, he probably needed to need to know a little more.
Rodney gets captured by the Genii and, knowing that he won't stand up to torture, decides that suicide is his only possible option. Interesting twist right in the beginning, and the characterizations really ring true.
Flawed by mandysbitch
Sheppard/McKay; 12,500 words; post-Trinity
Summary: “Rodney's been thinking about disasters lately.”
Rodney and Sheppard discover a strange Ancient cloning experiment. Rodney tries to come to terms with his guilt issues after screwing up spectacularly.
I love how everything resonates, how themes and plot and characterization just click together. The slighty... almost dazed Rodney voice really fits the mood of the story. I enjoyed it immensely.
four boots, five thousand two hundred and eighty feet by Pares
Sheppard/McKay; NC17; 9,200 words
Summary: "So what you're saying is, learning to love yourself really is the greatest love of all!"
I love bodyswap stories when they're done well, it's one of my favorite fanfic tropes (along with time loop and time travel). The voices in this fic are great and you can practically *see* them in each other's body. So much fun to watch it play out.
Swap Meet by Madison
gen; PG 13; 10189 words; season 1; Characters: team, Weir
Summary: The team returns from an off-world mission in a very different condition than when they left the city...
Madison is gleefully exploring the bodyswap theme, which makes for a fun read.
de profundis - up from the depths ( lj-link) by agentotter
Sam/Rodney; PG; 6,200 words; Post GUP.
Summary: Rodney has been chasing the idea of Sam Carter all day.
A day in the life of McKay. Cute and fun story, spot-on Rodney voice. Agentotter writes great Sam/Rodney interaction.
snippet: Carson nods and puts his hands in the pockets of his lab coat, and since when did it become Let's All Torture Rodney Day? "Zelenka's been giving her a tour," he says. "Lovely girl. I can see why you're so fixated. Er, attracted." He corrects himself in a way that isn't correction, like he's trying to be politically correct in a very obvious way, just to screw with Rodney's mind.
A question of perspective Or Reality Doesn't Always Come in Second to Fantasy by eretria
(The sequel to Nobody does it better or Rodney McKay and the Really Feisty Harem)
8680 words; Rating: mature; McKay/Carter; Spoilers: Pegasus Project
Summary: "You know,” McKay says, eventually, “it’s a good thing I’m an old-school gentleman. Anybody else would have taken advantage of this situation.”
Christmas in the Holly Free Zone by friendshipper
Summary: It's the first Christmas on Atlantis. Sheppard's a candy cane, Kavanagh's an elf, Heightmeyer has a cunning plan to build team spirit, Elizabeth has a headache and Rodney's just boycotting the whole thing. Humor, friendship. 11,439 words, season one
Okay, maybe 'tis not yet the proper season to rec this, but I just read it today and wanted to share the, um, Christmas joy immediately.
"C'mon, Elizabeth, cut 'em some slack. We've been living in a combat zone for months; everyone's in a ... what would the psychobabble be ... heightened state of combat readiness, or something." Sheppard snagged himself a couple of cookies, looked at the pudding for a minute and then gave it a pass. "Besides, the party's in, what, twenty-four hours? I don't think they have time to go completely insane."
Elizabeth sighed as she sat down. "I really wish you hadn't said that."
short fic/ficlets:
I have finally found a McKay/Keller story!
A Time to Heal by wildcat88
McKay/Keller; spoilers: The Last Man; PG; 3,200 words
Summary: Circumstances and a three week journey put everything in a different light.
This is a missing scene fic from TLM that fits seamlessly into the episode. Just what I was looking for after watching that ep.
Godzilla vs. Tokyo by sundancekid
PG-13; Character/Pairing(s): Rodney, John/Rodney, Atlantis; 2,356 words
Summary: In fact, the most serious challenge seems to be the city itself. Herself? Himself? The city does appear to be gay for Sheppard.
snippet: Right in the middle of writing a very important program to reduce the city's power use, his computer gets the blue screen of death. Nothing. For some reason, his last two saves hadn't automatically been sent to his spare laptop, either, or to the external hard drive in his lab. All that work, gone. And this is his personal computer, so his Batman episodes, his unfinished autobiography, his porn music, all gone.
"OK," Rodney yells, shaking his fist at the ceiling. "This is it. This is war."
I'm Taking This Loop Off by toomuchplor
John/Rodney; PG-13; Spoilers: none; Length: 1600 words
Summary: „I’m almost positive that this crap never happened to General O’Neill.“
Genitive of Absence by Mad Maudlin
gen; PG; 1,700 words
Summary: Of all the things he's been subjected to, Rodney deeply resents the Russian language. AU of "Redemption"
love the atmosphere.
Knievel the Mighty and the Eye of the Gods by lavvyan
Sheppard/McKay; R; 1,500 words; Warnings: Bitextual, crack, geekiness
Summary: "You stole all the good stuff from WoW, didn't you?"
"Shut up and play, Sheppard."
The Ninja Logs {File #001} by of-evangeline
Crack. Gen; G; 907 words
Summary: John's POV. The voices in my head tell me not to ask how, but to just believe.
Songs of Athos by friendshipper
Gen; 3,000 words
Summary: Teyla discovers Earth music -- and rediscovers her own.
The tie that binds, or, Rodney McKay does not have a lucky tie by minnow1212
Gen; 2,540 words
Summary: Five snippets about Rodney's very ugly tie. 2,540 words
I love the way these five snippets are tied together (heh). Great character piece, beautifully structured.
No More Quasi-Religious Alien Sex Rituals by icarusancalion
John/Rodney; PG-13; 3,500 words
Summary: John desperately tries to bail himself out of trouble.
As much fun as the title would suggest :)
Stories of Murder and Woe by rhymer23 (Ways to die challenge)
summary (author's): For stories of murder and woe, that kill all our friends from the show,
Where death is the norm, in a limerick form,
Just click on the link there below.
But, reader, before you proceed, ensure that these warnings you read:
There's Death! but no kissing, and spoilers are missing*;
It's PG (so, parents, take heed.)
So. very. Awesome. Caldwell's my favorite. McKay's and Carter's cracked me up. Very funny, the lot of them. (To my shame I must admit that I only got Chuck's on second reading...)
Twelve Things They (Will Someday) Say in the Pegasus Galaxy by minnow1212
gen; futurefic; 2,800 words
Summary: They say you can’t spot the Wraithborn, but they’re wrong. There’s always something that gives them away. Something around the eyes. Something about the hands. Something about the smile.
The kind of urban legends they will tell in the Pegasus galaxy - and these legends in turn tell a story. Very cool concept.
Free 'Verse by dashamte/Dasha
Gen; Minor warning for language and violence, 3,755 words
Summary: Rodney. Sam. Gardening instructions. Physics. Oh, and also muggers.
--McKay and Carter bonding over Physics is the way to this reader's heart...
Whatever Can Go Wrong by friendshipper
Summary: Babysitting as a teen, Elizabeth learned that when kids are noisy, everything is okay. When they get quiet ... that's when you know they're up to something. Unfortunately, she is about to learn the same is true of scientists. 3,010 words; gen; humor
... had me giggling like a maniac.
rodney mckay is a very bad manager by synecdochic
author's note: I justify myself by saying that it was performance reviews month. Warning for gratuitous use of Word documents. For the Documentation Challenge.
--Hilarious and very Rodney
Five Impossible Things Rodney McKay Did Before Breakfast by laceymcbain
McKay/Sheppard; PG-13; Season 1, sometime after "The Storm."; ~4700 words
Summary: Rodney hates that this is the day he’s going to disappoint everyone, and it’s little consolation he probably won’t be around to deal with the fall-out.
“Yeah, well, the good of the many ...”
“This isn’t Star Trek, Rodney! I’m not playing that scene with you-”
An overloading grounding station, a race against time. Excellent action fic.
Care Packages by auburnnothenna and eretria
SGA/SG-1 xover, gen, team, humor, rated PG-13; 4,800 words
Summary: Sam has a sick sense of humor, John doesn't fish, Teal'c watches QVC,Rodney never did see the end of The Sixth Sense, Elizabeth says 'We are not amused', Daniel ate the cookies and Jack is bored.
This story brought a big grin to my face. Sam/McKay, sortakinda...
While You Were Out by Mad Maudlin
Summary: The last thing John remembered was exploding. 1,893 words
"I'll explain it all after coffee." Rodney stopped short in the hallway. "Oh my god. I cut off diplomatic ties with our only source of coffee, didn't I?"
A Slip of the Tongue by agentotter
McKay/Carter; PG
Summary: The first time Rodney kissed Samantha Carter, it was entirely by accident.
Triptych by Mad Maudlin
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay; PG-13; 4,799 words
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, AU
(sort of a follow-up to the SG1 ep 'Moebius', IIRC)
Summary: Matter can neither be created nor destroyed
Everything's connected... made my head spin, in a good way.
Spin Me Right Round by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney; PG-13; 3,500 words
Summary: It's the worst date ever. And that's before the zombies show up.
A Few Things Sam Doesn't Want Anyone to Know About Her and Rodney Mckay by ijemanja
Sam/Rodney (but not really); PG; 1,200 words
Summary: A few things Sam doesn't want anyone to know about her and Rodney Mckay, and a few other things that Rodney would be only too happy to share about his (non-existent) relationship with Samantha Carter, if anyone actually cared enough to listen.
snippet: She's thought about what it would be like. Once or twice. Or maybe more, back when she first met him and hated the very sight of him.
Back then, she thought about pinning him down and doing... things. Like forcing an entire lemon down his throat. Or listening to him insult her intelligence and then forcing an entire lemon down his throat. Possibly while one or both of them were naked.
She doesn't know whether this makes her a masochist or a sadist. Probably a bit of both.
Now, she just thinks about the many different ways she could get him to admit, over and over again, how much smarter than him she is. She thinks about how pleasant the process could be.
But she's only thought about it once or twice. Briefly. She's not obsessed or anything.
One Life to Ascend To by rageprufrock
The Lanteans discover Ancient soap operas. 4,300 words, PG
"I can't believe he ascended the baby," Dr. Kavanagh says.
Coming Soon to a Galaxy Near You! by trinityofone
McKay/Sheppard; R; 4300 words; humor
Summary: “You’re not the least bit disturbed by this?” John asked. Rodney shrugged. “Well, I’d have preferred a Coffee Bean, but...”
Starbucks, on Atlantis. Doing that thing that they do.
Earth on a Shoestring (Remix of $173.23) by friendshipper
Team, gen; 3000 words
Roadtrip with aliens."Grapes," Rodney said, shoving a handful at him. "You can sample the grapes. Not the eggplants. God."
Anger Management by friendshipper
Gen; Characters: Sheppard, Heightmeyer; 1,500 words
Summary: Conventional Earth therapy doesn't work so well in the Pegasus Galaxy, Kate discovers.
Fantastic characterization of Sheppard in the aftermath of 'Phantoms' and 'Common Ground'
snippet: "If you're too tired, John, we could continue this tomorrow," she said, and he jumped, yanking his gaze back to her face.
"Nope, I'm good." Too quick, maybe? He tried to read her face, but as always, her true feelings were hidden behind the professional mask. In honesty, he was tired, and scatterbrained; the feeling reminded him of being drugged, and it scared him, scared the hell out of him, although Carson said he didn't seem to have any of the enzyme in his system. Words like electrolytes and messed-up metabolism had been bandied about, along with more ominous words behind his back, words that could ground a pilot: depression, PTSD, obsession.
Regrets, I've Had a Few by sp23
Rodney/Sam NC-17ish; ~1100 words
Summary: Sometimes, you do things in the heat of the moment you live to regret. But then sometimes, you don't.
Ships in the Night by friendshipper
513 words; gen
Summary: Sam couldn't fix a whole universe, but maybe she could help make one thing right.
Great missing scene for The Road Not Taken.
The Beauty of Flight by synecdochic
Anyone who's ever flown commercial should be getting flashbacks when reading this ficlet. ;)
Grammatology by aesc
written for sga_flashfic's wordless challenge
Characters: John/Rodney (implied), other; PGish; 3,500 words
Summary: Lost words, lost time, lost city.
Pieces of a puzzle coming together - fascinating take on the challenge.
Land Shark by basingstoke
975 words
Well. Hell with this. John was the pilot, he was the samurai here. Time to cut the counter in half.
He put both hands on the dash and talked to the jumper as directly as he could. Jumper? Baby? Light of my life?
Important: Do Not Kill The Scientist by spike21
(Documentation Challenge); short; Rated: S for silly and P for pornless
Acts of Contrition by agentotter
Sam/Rodney; rated PG for Pretty Gushy; 4,500 words
Summary: When the engines start purring, when the Ancient warship Helios stirs and shudders like a cat stretching out after a ten-thousand-year nap, when the systems all start coming online at once and Rodney's crack team of highly trained scientists are in the engine room squealing like a high school pep squad, Rodney is down the hall in a utility closet.
Torn by fiareynne
Carter/McKay; PG-13; General spoilers for SGA s4; shortThe first time it happens, she tells herself it’s a fluke. It’s very different here, and she’s lonely. They start bickering, like old times, and it’s comfortable, like a pair of jeans you’ve washed a hundred times. Before she knows what’s going on, they’re in her bed and McKay’s got that smug, satisfied look he gets when he’s won an argument, even though she’s fairly certain she got the last word in before things went non-verbal. When he leaves, she gathers her blouse, torn in their haste, and she swears to herself it won’t happen again.
And Jacob Loved Rachel by meyerlemon
Pairing: McKay/Sam. Sort of.
comics/cartoons/illustrated fic:
Rodney McKay's Scrapbook of Death by Moonloon
note: graphics-heavy
"Wait... you've had death threats?"
"Of course I have, Colonel. Any idiot can go though life without offending people."
"And you kept them?"
anna_luna made a beautiful piece about Rodney and music: Rodney's Life
medium: paper cut
I really can't imagine there being a more creative fandom out there.
An Elepant Story (spelling intentional) by tardis80
McShep; Rating, um, PG-ish?, no S4 spoilers
Summary: But Rodney had forgotten that this was the Pegasus galaxy and everyone was out to get him...
The Pegasus Tinies: A Dreadful Abecedarium, with Selected Illustrations by argosy and _kiden
(for sga_flashfic's Ways to Die Challenge)
Edward Gorey pastiche. Macabre and adorable and funny, with neat illustrations and a Tim Burtonesque flair. Did I mention that I love this fandom? Love!
posted to sga_art_santa: And I Have Known [edit: new working link for the image]
Really, really good. One of my favorite pieces of SGA fanart. I'm curious who did this... don't recognize the style. [eta: itsychick is the artist]
Zelenkamatch.com, story by lillyjk, artwork by newkidfan
A photo comic. :) I'd actually been wondering why no one ever seems to be doing comic based on screencaps instead of handdrawn artwork. This is beautifully executed and the dialog and caps are just hilarious. Hey, I have no idea who any of these characters are, and I was still chuckling throughout. Really worth checking out even if you're not in the fandom.
A Bed Too Small by liketheriverrun
Nine pages of graphics; McKay/Sheppard, Rating: T; Category: Slash/silliness.
Characters: McKay, Sheppard (with a smidgen of the others)
Summary: The epic tale of how John and Rodney fell in love and fell out of bed.
Totally cracked me up. It's shiny and funny and all around awesome. ♥
Postcards to Jeannie by friendshipper
Contains spoilers for the Season 3 episode "McKay & Mrs. Miller". Also, pictures.
Pictures for Jeannie by friendshipper
Word Count: n/a (pictures); G; gen; Spoilers: mild ones for McKay & Mrs Miller, Return
Summary: Teyla wants to share her galaxy with Jeannie through photographs. The boys want to get hit with large sticks, apparently.
See John Run! by rhymer23 ( lj-link)
So wrong. So very very wrong. :D (fic comes with illustrations)
vids:
'Sandman' by lim
download it | watch it on imeem
Doppelganger episode vid. McShep. Song by Gob.
This vid blends comic, animation, and real life video and the result is AMAZING. Seriously, guys, you've got to watch this vid. It's like a comic book come to life, and it's stunningly beautiful.
Stargate Atlantis: The video game by starrylizard
Gen; character: McKay; no S4 spoilers
Summary: Someone is trying to play the SGA video game.
Cupid vs. McShep by pyrateanny
Summary: Rodney and John each call on Cupid for help, but this particular Archer of Love seems a bit inept.
Cracks me up every time I watch it. Very cute.
And Hewlett in the role of Cupid... words fail, really. :D
For the shark challenge at sga_flashfic:
"Rumble" by astolat and cesperanza
download, imeem
Sharks vs Jets - West Side Story in Atlantis. It's hilarious and perfectly timed. And heh, those lyrics strangely fit. Very cool vid.
My Brilliant Idea by lim (download link)
I'm utterly in love with Lim's fandom vid Us; lost count of the number of times I've re-watched it. So I checked this one out even though I never watched an episode of SGA and usually don't read fic or watch vids for shows I don't know - they tend to just not do much for me, no matter how technically perfect they may be. But this clicked for me right away. It's so quirky and original, and the characters are so engaging that I'm all set on giving SGA a try next time it's on... and, well, it's technically perfect. It meshes graphics and clips in a way that works great for the story.
Also interesting how completely different the formal language in MBI is from that in "Us"... gah, I'm in awe.
I am/Lamb by lim
music: The Mercy Seat by Johnny Cash
A visually stunning vid that offers a look into the mind of John Sheppard. I know zilch about vidding technique but I thought it has a great use of special effects - they're very effective in creating a particular mood without being obtrusive.
Dreams by newkidfan
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard; Rating: PG; Spoilers: none (footage from seasons one and two only)
Fascinating vid. Unusual in that it uses stock material not just from the show but from other sources as well, with great results.
Written By The Victors: The Vid by queenzulu
Constructed reality, absolutely convincing. I've watched it repeatedly already; it's so cool to watch the story come to life in pictures.
This is How it Works by lim (download link)
(vid made for "Freedom's Just Another Word...")
I think this vid manages to perfectly reflect the sentiment of the story - it conveys the same conflicting emotions of sadness, loss, hope, and love... making the best of your life, without regrets, without letting the fear of loss stop you from loving, from living. The lyrics match the story beautifully and the visuals grip you. It's hard to shake this one off but then, I didn't really want to.
4 Ways to Defeat the Wraith Through Good Health, part 2 by Zoe Trope (vid, imeem link)
Stargate Atlantis - A Mini Adventure! by fraffledragon. An animated vid in four parts (youtube link)
meta/recs:
A priest, a rabbi, and an ATA user walk into a bar . . . " by thingswithwings and eruthros
Jokes they tell on Atlantis... frikkin' hilarious!
The SGA Project, a.k.a., "Flavor Of The Year." by icarusancalion
The goal: Give readers a taste of 2006 Stargate fandom, provide a rec-list with context, a description of intertexts, and explanation. (slanted toward Sheppard/McKay)
Not just a great recs list and a way for the fandom newbie to get up to speed, but an interesting view at the creative interaction in Stargate fandom, not just with the canon text but with other fannish works. Very cool.
by thefourthvine: Fandoms I Have Loved 10: Stargate: Atlantis
Wraith, ZPMs, Sheppard's hair and everything else you wanted to know about Stargate: Atlantis