Continued Big Bang reading

[sholio]

The Magical Number Seven (Plus or Minus Two) by general_jinjur - (gen, 61K words)

This story was just ... wow. I think it's assumed its place with my very favorite novel-length fanfic in this fandom. It involves two twists of canon: "Tabula Rasa" (they don't get their memories back and have to reinvent themselves and their place in the galaxy) and "This Mortal Coil" (the RepliTeam aren't killed). And what emerges when these two plot threads are twined together is a really incredible exploration of identity -- of who we are, and what makes us us, and what aspects of our connections to other people can transcend memory and self (and what can't). I guess I ought to warn you that the stories I love most are those with a little bittersweetness to them -- there were parts of this that just broke me because of what they'd lost, and didn't even know they'd lost; the distrust is sometimes hard to handle -- but then they'll turn right around and love each other so much it hurts.

There is a character death warning: more information on that if you want it --> minor/supporting characters only - Radek, Caldwell; none of the team.

If comparisons to other stories are useful to you, this story reminded me a little of auburnnothenna's stories -- it's kind of got the same feeling to it that a lot of hers do -- and also reminded me a bit of Ltlj's space pirate AU.

Comments

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

This story surprised me in a lot of good ways... that I won't get into since I don't want to spoil anything for others :D It's one of those that packs a lot of punches without having to try, and sticks with you.

[sholio]

Yeah; one thing that I really, really loved about the story is that it's different -- it's surprising, unexpected, non-formulaic. Most long fanfic stories are either romance or action/adventure -- but some stories transcend that, and are really different and memorable, and I think this is one of them. (Incidentally, I think your story "Eternity" is another. :)

I love action/adventure gen, I really do; it's what I write. But it's a total thrill to me to run across a story that takes the characters to different places and does different things with them.

[amalthia]

I'm bumping this to the top of my convert to ebook format list. :) Thanks for the rec! I'm a bit swamped lately.

[sholio]

Excellent! Yeah ... there's so much to read, and so little time. I've been reading Big Bang stories while I work on my Secret Santa fic .... write a little, then reward myself with some fic. :)

[amalthia]

Okay wow this story was awesome! I could not stop reading it and I loved how it ended though parts were sad.

Thanks for the recommendation!

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

It involves two twists of canon: "Tabula Rasa" (they don't get their memories back and have to reinvent themselves and their place in the galaxy) and "This Mortal Coil" (the RepliTeam aren't killed).

Funnily enough, Cypher's story shares the same premise. It's McKay/Shepard, though.

[sholio]

Ha, really? How interesting! I would never have thought of combining the two, although I guess that if you really want to mess with an amnesiac's head, that's sure gonna do it ...