[Day 7] - Recs: SGA
It's Day 7 of 14valentines and today's issue is Sexual Assault. You can find the post -> [here]
(PS - I totally didn't realize what today's topic was when I decided to rec the last fic. Just for reference.)
SGA
gen:
The Jenny Code by miss_porcupine
Rating: R for violence
Summary: All of the conventions that were supposed to make Earth's fighting 'civilized' -- the sanctity of women and children, the giving of quarter, the treatment of prisoners -- were largely absent here in the Pegasus galaxy. It was a function of fighting the Wraith, an enemy that did not even comprehend the concepts of mercy or 'non-combatant', and it hardened the hearts of everyone. It would harden them, too, eventually.
Pimp: I fangirl miss_porcupine to the nth degree. Seriously. I adore everything she comes out with, even those bits she considers 'not up to par'. Among other things I have a military kink thanks to John Sheppard and his thigh holster. Again, seriously. She writes Atlantis the way the writers should. There are many of her stories that I think would be excellent episodes (to replace some of the crap they had in seasons 2 and 3). Her stuff is military-heavy, but as true to life as a non-military person who reads military biographies and non-fiction heavily can make it.
I had a hard time trying to decide which of her stories to rec for today, because a lot of what I consider her best stories involve several OCs that will confuse a reader if they've not read some of her previous fics. She's a heavy Lorne writer, and filled out his team with three marines of various personalities and an epidemiologist who is by far one of the scariest and crankiest people on Atlantis. Really, you can consider all her stuff to be one giant series, as characters and events are interwoven through the whole of it. And there are a lot. She's filled out the background personnel in Atlantis with real, full characters, and given a face to the faceless marines we seen every week.
Finally, I decided to rec the first story of hers that I ever read - which also happens to be one of the first she wrote - called The Jenny Code. It goes through the 'adventure' of an offworld mission going wrong and Sheppard being captured by the Genii. This story is rated R for a reason, and it's not for sex or sexual innuendo (though not for lack of trying on the marine's parts). It's told through the eyes of Lorne, Caldwell and finally, Sheppard. You get to see the background of a search and rescue op, the way they really are done, not the way they show on tv.
As you've probably noticed, I'm a sucker for good characterization, and she's delivered in spades. The interplay between Sheppard and Lorne (not so much in this one, but is explored more fully in later stories) always makes me smile. As do the antics of the marines (again, in later stories). So, really, this is a rec for an author more than a story. But go read The Jenny Code anyway, and if you like it, check out Some Assembly Required for the forming of Lorne's team. From there, you can pretty much pick and choose which stories to read next. It's all gen - completely gen - and doesn't deviate. Enjoy!
Excerpt:
"Look at us," Lorne went on, waving his arm expansively at the growing piles of equipment being hovered over by fussing engineers. "We were once prom kings and quarterbacks and home run heroes. And now we're cammy-covered pack mules for the pocket protector set."
Sheppard laughed as he stretched his back. Lorne griped a lot, but the sort of self-deprecating griping that was funny and welcome, as opposed to how Rodney got when he was off his feed and behind on sleep and determined to make everyone else completely aware of his discomfort.
het:
Queen by xanthelj
Rating: NC-17 for violent, descriptive and kinky sex
Summary: Teyla's acting strangely. The Wraith have a lot to answer for.
Pimp: Finding good het in SGA is like finding good Gibbs/DiNozzo in NCIS, only more rare. I think this comes from the fact that John Sheppard has more chemistry with the city of Atlantis than he does with any of the female characters. This could explain why there's so much John/Rodney out there. However, I found this John/Teyla fic written by Xanthe, who is a hardcore slash writer, and it was amazing. John/Teyla has never been my cup of tea, mainly because I never really saw that kind of chemistry on the show. Sure, they had an instant rapport and trust between them, but that doesn't mean they would work out romantically. But I digress, this is not a meta on the reasons why I don't think John/Teyla would work on the show. But this is fanfiction, and good authors can overcome that discrepancy.
This is Teyla being affected by the Wraith Queen that was on Atlantis at the end of season 2, and how much of Teyla is really Wraith. It's kinky, female domination where Teyla is the queen of the 'hive' and John is her 'chosen'. It's hot and insightful and really very interesting. The author keeps Teyla as the strong, independant woman that she is, and doesn't diminish or weaken her through sex the way I see a lot of writers doing. There's not much more I can say, except go read it.
Excerpt: "What's going on?" he demanded, going to stand beside Teyla's bed. She looked so peaceful under the heavy sedation. Hard to believe that just a couple of hours ago she'd been snarling and biting, as vicious as any predator.
"Well, the good news is that I know what's wrong with her," Carson told him.
"And the bad news?" John raised an eyebrow.
"There isn't a cure. Or at least, there is, but I don't think it's one anyone is going to be comfortable with," Carson sighed.
slash:
Bang by rageprufrock
Rating:NC-17>Summary: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE
Pimp: Despite it's rating, this is one of the funniest fics I have ever read. Pru has a way of writing Sheppard/McKay that always grabs my attention. John is more laconic and laidback, and Rodney is more neurotic and snarky, but it works oh-so-well. The premise of this story is that the senior staff of Atlantis is back on Earth for three months for some reason or another. John, after having spent so much time in a city that reads his mind, has forgotten the little things like doors you can't 'think' open. This results in multiple injuries and trips to the emergency room, where a solemn doctor encourages John to get help and leave his abusive partner, Rodney.
Seriously, despite the subject matter, it's hilarious - mostly because John and Rodney aren't 'like that'.
(Also, if you have a couple hours to spare, go check out her fic 'Bell Curve or Ladies Night at the Boom Boom Room' and all future stories - where John is Rodney's stripping/bartending TA on who Rodney has a completely inappropriate crush.)
Excerpt:
Scowling, John knocks his hands away, saying, "I'm fine. And I was fine when you dragged me here, too."
"You were not fine," Rodney hisses, and glancing left and right in the most conspicuous manner possible, he leans in even closer and says, "We've been back on Earth two months already--when are you going to relearn how to use doorknobs?"
"I wasn't thinking! It was an accident!" John argues feebly, feeling the gazes of the nearby nurses and seeing Dr. Holloway appear again, circling round to the desk to drop off John's chart and give him another beseeching stare: 'save yourself'. "Let's just get out of here, all right?"
(PS - I totally didn't realize what today's topic was when I decided to rec the last fic. Just for reference.)
SGA
gen:
The Jenny Code by miss_porcupine
Rating: R for violence
Summary: All of the conventions that were supposed to make Earth's fighting 'civilized' -- the sanctity of women and children, the giving of quarter, the treatment of prisoners -- were largely absent here in the Pegasus galaxy. It was a function of fighting the Wraith, an enemy that did not even comprehend the concepts of mercy or 'non-combatant', and it hardened the hearts of everyone. It would harden them, too, eventually.
Pimp: I fangirl miss_porcupine to the nth degree. Seriously. I adore everything she comes out with, even those bits she considers 'not up to par'. Among other things I have a military kink thanks to John Sheppard and his thigh holster. Again, seriously. She writes Atlantis the way the writers should. There are many of her stories that I think would be excellent episodes (to replace some of the crap they had in seasons 2 and 3). Her stuff is military-heavy, but as true to life as a non-military person who reads military biographies and non-fiction heavily can make it.
I had a hard time trying to decide which of her stories to rec for today, because a lot of what I consider her best stories involve several OCs that will confuse a reader if they've not read some of her previous fics. She's a heavy Lorne writer, and filled out his team with three marines of various personalities and an epidemiologist who is by far one of the scariest and crankiest people on Atlantis. Really, you can consider all her stuff to be one giant series, as characters and events are interwoven through the whole of it. And there are a lot. She's filled out the background personnel in Atlantis with real, full characters, and given a face to the faceless marines we seen every week.
Finally, I decided to rec the first story of hers that I ever read - which also happens to be one of the first she wrote - called The Jenny Code. It goes through the 'adventure' of an offworld mission going wrong and Sheppard being captured by the Genii. This story is rated R for a reason, and it's not for sex or sexual innuendo (though not for lack of trying on the marine's parts). It's told through the eyes of Lorne, Caldwell and finally, Sheppard. You get to see the background of a search and rescue op, the way they really are done, not the way they show on tv.
As you've probably noticed, I'm a sucker for good characterization, and she's delivered in spades. The interplay between Sheppard and Lorne (not so much in this one, but is explored more fully in later stories) always makes me smile. As do the antics of the marines (again, in later stories). So, really, this is a rec for an author more than a story. But go read The Jenny Code anyway, and if you like it, check out Some Assembly Required for the forming of Lorne's team. From there, you can pretty much pick and choose which stories to read next. It's all gen - completely gen - and doesn't deviate. Enjoy!
Excerpt:
"Look at us," Lorne went on, waving his arm expansively at the growing piles of equipment being hovered over by fussing engineers. "We were once prom kings and quarterbacks and home run heroes. And now we're cammy-covered pack mules for the pocket protector set."
Sheppard laughed as he stretched his back. Lorne griped a lot, but the sort of self-deprecating griping that was funny and welcome, as opposed to how Rodney got when he was off his feed and behind on sleep and determined to make everyone else completely aware of his discomfort.
het:
Queen by xanthelj
Rating: NC-17 for violent, descriptive and kinky sex
Summary: Teyla's acting strangely. The Wraith have a lot to answer for.
Pimp: Finding good het in SGA is like finding good Gibbs/DiNozzo in NCIS, only more rare. I think this comes from the fact that John Sheppard has more chemistry with the city of Atlantis than he does with any of the female characters. This could explain why there's so much John/Rodney out there. However, I found this John/Teyla fic written by Xanthe, who is a hardcore slash writer, and it was amazing. John/Teyla has never been my cup of tea, mainly because I never really saw that kind of chemistry on the show. Sure, they had an instant rapport and trust between them, but that doesn't mean they would work out romantically. But I digress, this is not a meta on the reasons why I don't think John/Teyla would work on the show. But this is fanfiction, and good authors can overcome that discrepancy.
This is Teyla being affected by the Wraith Queen that was on Atlantis at the end of season 2, and how much of Teyla is really Wraith. It's kinky, female domination where Teyla is the queen of the 'hive' and John is her 'chosen'. It's hot and insightful and really very interesting. The author keeps Teyla as the strong, independant woman that she is, and doesn't diminish or weaken her through sex the way I see a lot of writers doing. There's not much more I can say, except go read it.
Excerpt: "What's going on?" he demanded, going to stand beside Teyla's bed. She looked so peaceful under the heavy sedation. Hard to believe that just a couple of hours ago she'd been snarling and biting, as vicious as any predator.
"Well, the good news is that I know what's wrong with her," Carson told him.
"And the bad news?" John raised an eyebrow.
"There isn't a cure. Or at least, there is, but I don't think it's one anyone is going to be comfortable with," Carson sighed.
slash:
Bang by rageprufrock
Rating:NC-17>Summary: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE
Pimp: Despite it's rating, this is one of the funniest fics I have ever read. Pru has a way of writing Sheppard/McKay that always grabs my attention. John is more laconic and laidback, and Rodney is more neurotic and snarky, but it works oh-so-well. The premise of this story is that the senior staff of Atlantis is back on Earth for three months for some reason or another. John, after having spent so much time in a city that reads his mind, has forgotten the little things like doors you can't 'think' open. This results in multiple injuries and trips to the emergency room, where a solemn doctor encourages John to get help and leave his abusive partner, Rodney.
Seriously, despite the subject matter, it's hilarious - mostly because John and Rodney aren't 'like that'.
(Also, if you have a couple hours to spare, go check out her fic 'Bell Curve or Ladies Night at the Boom Boom Room' and all future stories - where John is Rodney's stripping/bartending TA on who Rodney has a completely inappropriate crush.)
Excerpt:
Scowling, John knocks his hands away, saying, "I'm fine. And I was fine when you dragged me here, too."
"You were not fine," Rodney hisses, and glancing left and right in the most conspicuous manner possible, he leans in even closer and says, "We've been back on Earth two months already--when are you going to relearn how to use doorknobs?"
"I wasn't thinking! It was an accident!" John argues feebly, feeling the gazes of the nearby nurses and seeing Dr. Holloway appear again, circling round to the desk to drop off John's chart and give him another beseeching stare: 'save yourself'. "Let's just get out of here, all right?"