McShep Match recs

[sholio]

I guess I should post some mcshep_match recs! I've been enjoying the stories over there, and the authors will be revealed pretty soon. Obviously, all of these stories are John/Rodney. (Also, why aren't more people guessing authors? Isn't that half the fun?)

Blink (Prompt: eye for an eye; AU; rated R for violence but I'd call it more PG)
I loved this. It's more than just fanfic -- it's science fiction. Brilliant and creepy and amazing.

No Place Like Home (Prompt: clean slate; rated R)
I really don't like the whole "destined to be together" trope (even though I've kinda written it; shut up *g*) and this story upends that cliché brilliantly. John is accidentally bounced into another universe, and what he learns about his and McKay's relationship is more than a little disturbing, but what he does with that knowledge rocks my socks. It's unromantic in the most romantic way possible.

Less to Say (Prompt: eleventh hour; kind of AU; rated R, but I'd call it PG)
Another story I really loved -- it unfolds slowly in a series of emails from John to Rodney, dropping little hints to the central mystery. Kept me guessing 'till the end.

All the Pharoah's Men (Prompt: weakest link; R for violence)
This one, I think, can totally be read as gen; I even recced it at stargategenrec. Rodney accidentally ends up on a chain gang building a pyramid, and turns out to be stronger and more resourceful than he knows.

You've Written Your Own Directions (And Whistled the Rules of Change) (Prompt: skin deep; AU; NC-17)
A gently wistful-sad-sweet take on a transgender John and Rodney.

Little By Little To the Truth; or a Narrative of the Atlantis Expedition (Prompt: pound of flesh; AU; R)
The gate to Atlantis is opened in 1904 rather than 2004. I think what I love most about this story (other than steampunk AU!!!) is that it isn't just crack; it takes a semi-serious stab at creating a believable 1904 and looking at how their different social mores would be reflected in the different way they relate to the Pegasus Galaxy and its people. But, basically, it's steampunk Atlantis.

Comments

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I was really baffled by All the Pharoah's Men. I can't for the life of me figure out how it's John/Rodney, and it's not even John & Rodney friendship, since John's not in the fic except for like two lines at the end. It's entirely Rodney gen, which would be fine anywhere else, but I don't understand why it in the fest. Explicit John/Ronon would make as much sense to me as a choice.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I know! To be fair, it's not by any means the first time I've encountered a story that was labeled with a pairing and yet read as totally gen to me; usually I attribute this to me being a gen reader first and foremost, so I don't tend to see innuendo where others do. And in this case, he's on the chain gang because he saved John's life, and John's the one who's looking for him in the end, so I can kinda see how the author might have seen it as John/Rodney if that pairing was in the front of their mind while they were writing the story -- but it *does* seem a bit of an odd choice for a John/Rodney fic fest.

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the only thing I can figure is it's one of those "read with your slash goggles" things and I just don't have them, so I was like, wait, what? XD

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Yep, "slash goggles", exactly. Which I don't have, so ... it looks entirely gen to me, but maybe for someone who is thinking in that mold, it works just fine as a John/Rodney story.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Also, why aren't more people guessing authors? Isn't that half the fun?

So true! For several stories the authors were really obvious, and it's a shame I can't participate in the guessing. *g*

Also, it's fun as an author to see who's guessing you for what. ;)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I know! I was totally delighted in the genficathon that everyone was so active about guessing, and a little disappointed to see so little guessing here. Come *on*, people! I feel a little weird if I'm the only one posting guesses...

[mcalex22.livejournal.com]

OH my, I've also been prowling mchsep_match for stories. Less to Say was my favourite, until I read No place like home but Blink took the cake! That was actually the most intriguing story and caught my attention! It was the sort of plot that makes sci fi good sci fi!

All the Pharoah's men was a very mild mcshep but I just adored Rodney and his attitude :)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

There have been quite a few good stories posted! I'm looking forward to the reveals, and finding out who wrote everything.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reccing my story! :D

Out of curiosity, how did you know/think it was me?

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, how did you know/think it was me?

Uh ... I'm trying to remember, and I'm not actually sure! I think I got a clue at your LJ (I remember something you'd written made me think yours had already been posted, which meant one of a small number of already-posted stories was probably yours) and your stories tend to have very unusual and creative plots, a little different from the mainstream of the fandom.