Story rec

[sholio]

I just recced this over at stargategenrec, but it deserves another rec here, because seriously, this is an amazing, awesome story; I'm still trying to get it out of my brain. It's team gen, but even if you don't normally read that, I suggest you take a look -- especially if you like stories that are darker and twistier than is the norm in SGA.

Unmanifest Destiny by vain_glorious is the story. It's not that I've never read this plot before; it's that I've rarely read it done this well. Even if you think you've seen road trip fic before, even if you don't think team road trip is your bag, you still ought to give this one a look.

I don't want to spoil the story in this rec, because it's so rare that a fanfic gives me a "Holy fucking hell *boggle*" feeling that I don't want to spoil it for anyone else. But be aware that it contains material some may find depressing and/or triggering. If you're in the mood for a cheerful lark of a story, this isn't it.

Comments

[altyronsmaker.livejournal.com]

I totally second this rec. Totally. Though it took reading the end three times before I really understood. But man. GREAT story!

[sholio]

Isn't it great? I've seen that plot twist done before, in fanfic as well as movies, but it's really rare for it to be pulled off so subtly and well. I just love finishing a story and then immediately wanting to go back and re-read it just to figure out how it was done.

[roga.livejournal.com]

Oh, holy fuck. Thank you for that rec.

[sholio]

It's such a brilliant story, and I just saw your rec as well. Definitely worth it!

[mcalex22.livejournal.com]

I just read vain_glorious's story, not heeding your "depressing and/or triggering" comment... I went straight to the link and then went "Oh wow!" It is indeed a beautiful story and I loved the ending even if I completely did not expect it! :D

Thanks for recommending it!

[sholio]

It's an utterly brilliant story, and I was very glad that I didn't know *anything* about it going in.

from naye at work

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, crap.

I can't resist a rec like that, not even with the warnings. But because of the warnings, I'm fairly sure it's going to break my heart.

Also, halfway through the first part I started noticing that. Um. Yeah, Sheppard keeps talking, but nobody ever answers him, and the fact that they're doing all the things he likes to do and he's just watching, not interacting... It's terribly cleverly done, but since I approached it expecting it to rip my heart out and stomp on it, I'm. Not going to be surprised by the ending? And it's already getting to my heart. Ow, ow, ow. But good. But ow.

... do you have any happy, fluffy recs to make me a little less broken, after? ^^;;

Re: from naye at work

[sholio]

I kinda hated to put the warning on there at all, especially since the author chose not to warn and I wanted to respect that. On the other hand, for me, surprises usually trump fannish considerations (which was why I loved this so much) but I realize that's not true of everyone.

briar_pipe has just put up a del.icio.us of team and OT4 fic (oh hey, just saw that this one's on there when I went to get the link! XD) and it's full of teamy goodness, some OT4 and some gen.

[naye]

I'm really, really glad I was warned, because - to be honest, I probably wouldn't have kept reading if I didn't know there was more to the fic that met the eyes? Because there is this feeling of wrong about it, and knowing that's the point, it was easy to accept that and continue to find out what it was all about, but if I hadn't know about that I would probably have read a bit, blinked, shrugged, and gone off in search of fic that didn't make me all twitchy for no discernible reason.

Plus, there's the whole thing where at it in the mood for happy fluff might have shattered pieces of my heart that I really need. So, yes. Warning appreciated all around!

[naye]

And thank you for the happy team rec! ♥

[vain-glorious.livejournal.com]

Thought I'd swing by to thank you for pointing people in my direction. It makes me feel all squishy inside.

Thanks. :)

[sholio]

Awww! You're welcome! Your story is brilliant and well deserving of it.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Dude. If I had known it would have that kind of ending, I wouldn't have read it.

[sholio]

While I appreciate that it's not your kind of story and that you have an aversion to that particular kind of plot twist, I'd think that "dark", "twisty", "depressing", "triggering" and "not a happy story" should have given a pretty good idea that it wouldn't be your kind of story.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Uh, I don't think that initial comment came out right. Sorry. :/

[sholio]

Amusingly enough, I was just thinking that my answering comment probably came off way more snarky/irritated than I'd really meant it to.

When I posted this link, there were a few people on my flist that I thought would really like the story (and like it best unwarned) and a few that I pretty much knew wouldn't like it, you being in the latter camp, especially after the discussion on warnings at your LJ awhile back. I did try to accommodate both camps in my rec, though maybe a straightforward "lavvyan, do not read this story!" would have been the way to go. *g*

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Ah, the joys of written communication. *g*

I do like that kind of story, occasionally, but I hate going in unprepared as more often than not my day ends up ruined, so maybe next time you could tell me to stay away? :)

[sholio]

That sounds fair; I'll try to remember it for next time! :)

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I so wanted to rec this story but didn't know how. How do you say... how do you tell... ack! So, so glad someone figured it out:D This story needed rec'ing badly.

[sholio]

That was the hard part for me, too! You don't want to reveal too much (well, any) of the plot, but you want to be kind to people who might not be able to handle certain kinds of dark material. It's haaaaard!