November 11th, 2008

Fast Rope

The New Frontier by harriet_spy (PG-13)

Fandom Category: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Teyla Emmagen/John Sheppard
Fic Title: The New Frontier
Author: harriet_spy 
Link: The New Frontier
Rating/Warning(s): Past major character deaths implied, violence, use of the Sergio Leone canon tropes
Genre: Angst AU Western
WIP?: Complete

Why This Must Be Read: Teyla never directly appears in this story but John and the reader are haunted by her throughout. This AU mystery/western begins when a child is intrigued by the mysterious stranger who rides into town six years after the end of the Wraith war and is persuaded to stay on a while and work on her father's farm. The author cleverly transplants the traditional western movie plot (the mysterious drifter coming into the small town, helping the townspeople stand up to the local villains before moving on again) into a Pegasus setting, subverting the conventions of the genre to highlight the alienness of the setting and how little John belongs. As John struggles with his past, the reader gradually realizes what has happened. The prose is beautiful and memorable with flashes of humor and tragedy, which is typical of this author. Her characterization of John, broken and grieving for who and what he has lost, rings true. Haunted by Teyla, he bonds with the girl, who reminds him a little of her. He teaches her how to bantos fight and brings some American-style/Teyla-inspired feminism into her life and she helps him heal a little.
Sunglasses

In Atlantis by Dezrai (NC-17)

Fandom Category: Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG:1
Pairing: Sam Carter/Jack O'Neill, Teyla Emmagen/John Sheppard, Jennifer Keller/Ronon Dex, Laura Cadman/Rodney McKay UST, Wraith Queen/Todd
Fic Title: In Atlantis
Author: Dezrai
Link: In Atlantis
Rating/Warning(s): Graphic sex, evil villain exposition
Genre: Action/Adventure Romance
WIP?: Not complete, 49 long chapters in less than three months and the prolific author is still going, dramatic tension is still high and she says this is the first in a series.

Why This Must Be Read: Dezrai's In Atlantis is like a SGA/SG-1 fan's wishlist in a fic (or at least mine), it has: equally featured gorgeous love stories between Jack and Sam & John and Teyla, excellent characterization, hilarious humor, space battles, betrayal, evil villains, Jack finally wises up and arranges the chain of command to be with Sam, John is smart and recognized for it, John and Jack play with Atlantis and ancient tech (which loves John best of course), Todd and John in action, SG-1 comes to visit, John bonds adorably with Torren John, fast-paced action scenes, John is whumped many, many times, many BURNING HOT love scenes including chair smut (yes, that chair), angst that makes your chest hurt, Teyla gets incredible scenes to show her strength and wisdom, Rodney is entertainingly frustrated and jealous of John and Jack's genes, fascinating Ancient technology and outposts, a heart warming and sexy Ronon/Keller love story, Cadman flirts with Rodney, Todd has an angsty love story with his queen, Lorne gets a big part and a love interest, the Travellers drop by, Michael is evil and Daniel interrogates Todd (who is definitely a second lead) on Wraith culture and explains the concepts of DVDs (must be read!). I could go on but don't you want to check this out already?

Fast Rope

Meals on the Run by raisintorte (PG-13)

Fandom Category: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Laura Cadman/Evan Lorne
Fic Title: Meals on the Run
Author: raisintorte 
Link: Meals on the Run
Rating/Warning(s): Suggestive remarks
Genre: Romance
WIP?: Complete

Why This Must Be Read: Meals on the Run finds Lorne and Cadman flirting and bantering even though they are nude, chained to the wall and basted with various sauces by cannibals to tenderize them for eating. The chemistry between them is crackling in this short little charmer and it has the fantastic line, "The main dish is not permitted to sample the appetizer!”