Recs for a total newcomer?

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Hi all!
Beyond late to the party, but...I'm totally new to SGA- my flatmate finally beat me into submission and made me watch the first few eps.  I then watched the whole 5 seasons in the space of about 6 weeks *g*  
I'm officially addicted and I know there's tons of awesome fanfic out there, but I was hoping you guys could point me in the right direction to get started? 
I'm basically after recs of:

1. Fandom-favourite fics (if its anything like Supernatural fandom I'm guessing there's a bunch on must-reads that everyone knows about?)
2. Your go-to authors for brilliant SGA fic
3. Any need-to-know rec lists/ archives etc.?

As far as pairings go I'm not really invested in any particular canon relationship, so I'm open to suggestion at the moment. Feel free to try and convert me to your OTP :) Equally, I love well-written gen fics, so really it's a pretty wide request. H/c, humour, angst, friendship, pwp, epic romance...  or anything you wanna throw at me really!
Thanks in advance!  I hope I've followed all the comm rules- if I need to change anything please let me know :D

Comments

[bleedtoblue.livejournal.com]

I'm all about John/Rodney and (mostly) happy endings. If that interests you I have a list of recs here (http://bleedtoblue.livejournal.com/268335.html) at my LJ.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

Welcome to the fold!

[captain-tibbs.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

I was a late convert myself, and didn't get into SGA 'til season five, though I was a long time Stargate fan.

It was fanfic that actually lured me into it, and it remains my all-time favourite fandom.

I gotta say, I hope you are okay with McShep (Rodney/John), purely because this pairing has some of the most talented writers and greatest stories in the fandom (in my huble opinion anyway).
There is a plethora of amazing fic out there and one of the resource spots to try is the collection of lists on this comm;
http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/123742.html

As for fandom favourites, well, there are literally hundreds, and you could start by checking out skardykat's list of 'most requested fic searched for which really, you should know by now...';
(WARNING - MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS!)
http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/3552.html

I can't list all my favs, but will add a few that immediately spring to mind..

Re: Welcome to the fold!

[captain-tibbs.livejournal.com]

For episode related fic;
http://community.livejournal.com/sga_episodefic/60532.html

BEST PLACE TO START!!!
Again, thanks too the awesome skardeykat for this list of recs, which I thouroughly endorse ;-)
http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

Here's my list of SGA gen fic recs (http://www.delicious.com/MErecs/gen+sga). By far the most popular SGA gen fic, based on delicious tags, is Retrograde (http://www.ltljverse.com/watergate/seriesindex.htm) by Martha Wilson. huh, I don't have it in my tags -- how odd, I shall rec it forthwith.

Anyway, "Retrograde" is a must-read.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Brill, thanks! I'll make sure to check Retrograde out.

John/Rodney stories

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

If you fancy some short stories & PWPs try the McSheplets Community (http://community.livejournal.com/mcsheplets/) Lots and lots of authors who post short stories there also write longer ones.


Also there's an archive here http://sga.fictionresource.com/tags.php (http://sga.fictionresource.com/tags.php)

and

here www.wraithbait.com (www.wraithbait.com)

Re: John/Rodney stories

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that comm is new to me and seems like a great place to start. Thanks for the archive links too! :)

[calcitrix.livejournal.com]

You could check out the Big Bang stories (http://sgabigbang.talkoncorners.net/)--those are the older ones. Last year's are here. (http://archiveofourown.org/collections/2010_stories) There are nice, long fics...some of them are McShep, some gen, some other pairings--but definitely a great representation of the different favorite OTPs and genres in the fandom.

I for one would say that while McShep certainly dominates the fandom, there's great writing in other pairings, too. And of course there are communities here on LJ for every one of them! Check out slashing_lorne for example...

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Lorne... yum. Thanks muchly :)

[squidgiepdx]

I was actually drawn into the community by fanfiction first, NOT the series (hadn't watched a single episode until after I was a die-hard McShep fan). What got me hooked? sheafrotherdon's Iowa-verse. It's here: http://sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com/105567.html?thread=20079967

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Haha, that's cool. Though the McShep on the show must have somewhat failed to live up to your expectations! Thanks for the rec, I'll head on over there :D

some faves

[internetname.livejournal.com]

Advantage - http://trickster.org/res/advantage.html

A Beautiful Lifetime Event - http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/stargate/lifetime_event.html

By the End of April - http://community.livejournal.com/artword/20859.html

The First Pressing - http://www.stickymanpress.mediawood.net/firstpressing.html

On Life and Living - http://home.comcast.net/~wesleysgirl/fanfiction/sga/life.html

Once Upon a Furry Octopus - http://skoosiepants.livejournal.com/109266.html

Neighborly Detective and the Tragic Woobie Widower - http://elayna88.livejournal.com/311636.html

No Refunds, No Exchanges - http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/stargate/No%20Refunds%20Or%20Exchanges.html

Time in a Bottle - http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/stargate/time_in_a_bottle.html

Wraith Killers - http://www.wraithbait.com/viewstory.php?sid=12387&warning=12

The PURRRRRR-fect Solution - http://crimsonclad.livejournal.com/84243.html

Foolproof and Incapable of Error - http://neery.livejournal.com/25781.html

Complementary Colors - http://yin-again.com/compcolors.htm

Mostly Harmless - http://intimations.org/fanfic/stargate/MostlyHarmless.html

The Epic Tale of Rodney & John, Two Girl Scout Cookies in Love - http://bitter-crimson.livejournal.com/577790.html

Fair Trade - http://esteefee.livejournal.com/12350.html#cutid1

Out Of Bounds - http://www.icarus.slashcity.net/stories/outofbounds.html

Ties That Bind series - http://keiramarcos.com/ties-that-bind-sga-au/

Re: some faves

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! very kind :)

[jane-connor.livejournal.com]

Long Gen fics

Flossy's Masterlist (http://flossyscorner.weebly.com/fan-fiction.html)

Tipper's Masterlist (http://megtipper.tripod.com/fanfiction6.htm)

NotTasha's Masterlist (http://www.nottasha.com/atlantis.htm)

Long gen and slash:

River's Masterlist (http://liketheriverrun.livejournal.com/12125.html)

Geeks and Goons Guide Verse (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/852967/likethekoschka) by likethekoschka. John and Rodney are married in this one.

Post-Trinity Phenomenon Ultra-Hilarious Super-Angsty List (http://iibnf.livejournal.com/1328223.html)

Black Helicopters Series (http://whizzy.dreamwidth.org/tag/black+helicopters) by whizzy. Canon-compliant AU. Long.

Chandri McLeod's Masterlist (http://www.fantasi.net/fandom.html#SGA)

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Amazing, thanks so much for sharing! *is overwhelmed* :D

[gelbes-gilatier.livejournal.com]

I can't believe no one recommended miss_porcupine's stories yet. You can find all of them on her fic page (http://www.offpanel.net/dmz/sga.html) and I absolutely recommend her stories.

I also have tagged 121 a couple of stories on my delicious account (http://www.delicious.com/gelbes_gilatier/fanfic%3ASGA) (two of them are McShep but the rest are mainly Lorne/Cadman, rare het pairings and gen stories).

I also wrote too many some Lorne/Cadman and various character gen stories. If you don't mind self-pimping I can direct you to a couple of stories :)

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks for these! And I would LOVE to read your Lorne/Cadman. Please, direct away! :D

[jenna_marianne]

For particular author recs, I'd say:
astolat, SGA fic at author's website
cesperanza: author's website (and some of which is also at AO3).
LtLJ aka Martha Wilson writes both great gen and slash. I rec all her stuff, found either at AO3 or the author's website

Also, one of the best known SGA fics is Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose (and sequel And The Band's Playing "Hail To The Chief") by synecdochic. It's amazing and you will see it reced all over the place; I rec it with the caveat that it's not a good starter fic in the fandom. It's a gen (post-McKay/Sheppard) fic with major character death. Read it when your in the mood for some Rodney-centric angst and a fabulous character-driven story that explores PTSD, grief, and recovery.

You could also check out my delicious links of SGA fics; here are some of my Favorite SGA fics.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Great, thanks so much! I do occasionally have days when I'm brave enough to read character-death, as long as I've got some super fluffy ficlet waiting on the next tab for damage control afterwards! I'll def check out your delicious links :)

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Yay-Yay-Yay!
That's my reaction to having you become a fan of SGA (whether it involved submission is another matter altogether ::snickers::).

I thought I'd give you two different sources:
sga_newsletter will give you a detailed daily summary of anything that's been released in the fandom during the previous 24 hours (written, art, podfic, vid) ... just a fabulous resource of everything that's the latest. Also news, challenges, miscellaneous and utterly delish screencaps (often in droolworthy HD).

For fic, it has the following categories: gen, het, slash (mckay/sheppard), slash (various) or uncategorized. No descriptions other than the person's LJ or DW handle, title and main characters (if it's a 'ship), so you take a chance not knowing what to expect when you click, but you'll eventually begin to recognize contributors' names.

Also, sgastoryfinders is lots of unexpected fun to read, because stories are requested based on the weirdest or sometimes really obscure details. It's such a delight to see when they're found ... usually by [ah, darn, that's ... ::giggles:: classified] ... some very resourceful, exceptionally knowledgeable and extremely generous members.

I'd recommend adding both of the above to your friendslist.

And, again, welcome!!!!!
\0/\0/\0/\0/
{Team above}

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Haha, love this! Thanks for the info- this fandom is clearly going to eat my brain. My roomie knows not what he has started. :D

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can totally get behind John/Ronon...well, you know what I mean... ;)

Many thanks for all of this!

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

If you liked the episode Vegas then you will find those filed under vVv on this list The Giant McShep AU List (http://www.squidge.org/GiantMcShepAUList/the-actual-list/)

This list also contains lots of McShep AUs sorted by John's Job. Have fun.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks so much!

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

Hee, nice that someone already listed my (Newer) SGA Readers Guide (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html) -- but yes, I created it exactly for this, people like me new to the fandom (and in my case, fic) who didn't know where to start. (Also for myself so I'd have all the SGA links I use most in one place, and yes, I refer back to it myself all the time!)
In it, I'd recommend starting with the top primer listed (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html#cutid1), and then going down to the reclists (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html#cutid2) section; the reccers listed there have recced all the must-read classics, certainly in the McShep flavor. :) And the writers I list in the McShep recs (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html#cutid3) and not-so-McShep recs (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/1083.html#cutid6) are all very good.
My "Were you looking for that story where?" post (http://skaredykat.livejournal.com/3552.html) that wasalso mentioned above is perhaps better saved for after you've read the classics from the recs in this search and on some of those rec-lists, as that storyfinding classics posts is very spoilery for the actual stories. :)

If you're interested, I got several very good recs for het stories (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/639620.html) (the writers I listed in the search part of that post also give consistently good to excellent less-het SGA), and if you'd like stories featuring the women of Atlantis, there was another great set of recs here (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/638127.html).

Another earlier search that might be helpful to you asked for favorite SGA writers (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/753089.html), some of mine are here (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/753089.html).

And depending on what length stories you like to dive in with, here's a search for epic-length McShep fics (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/820471.html) (and I only just discovered a comm, epic_recs, that also has lots of epic-length and shorter McShep and non-McShep SGA recs (http://community.livejournal.com/epic_recs/tag/fandom:%20stargate%20atlantis)), and one for people's favorite McShep no-stargate/less-SF-like AUs (http://community.livejournal.com/sgagenrefinders/806666.html).

Happy reading! :)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

And eek, how could I have forgotten! A tasty, tasty Shep!whump and team!whump h/c list (http://elderwitty.livejournal.com/17366.html) compiled (for me *blushes*) by the fabulous elderwitty (of The Giant McShep AU List (http://www.squidge.org/GiantMcShepAUList/the-actual-list) fame), pairings and wordcounts all listed. :)

[x-varda-x.livejournal.com]

Try stargategenrec for gen fics

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[jenna_marianne]

If you're looking for rec sites/comms, you may be interested in:
crack_van has a SGA tag
I agree with skaredykat about epic_recs
and there's a Stargate-specific rec comm: stargateficrec

Search comms:
In addition to sgagenrefinders, there's sgastoryfinders and stargate_search

Archives:
Wraithbait is probably the biggest out there I know of.
Others have mentioned the BigBang site, and Archive of Our Own has a SGA section

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Brilliant, thanks so much!

[duonoaikouka.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the brain-eating fandom!!! It's a fun place with phenomonal writing, generous people, and a wonderful supporting atmosphere.

Everyone's listed so many resources and great authors that I almost hesitate to add these two authors 'cause you'll be reading for the next couple decades with all these great fics. But I love these two so much, gotta pimp 'em!

For gen, friendshipper. Website: City on the Ocean's Edge (http://www.sholiofic.com/sga/)

She's my queen for action/adventure, character development, and plot. Her stories run the gambit from short to long and horror to drama. Definitely something there to please.

And

For slash (mostly McShep), tarlanx Website: Tarlan SGA fic (http://davidhewlett.tarlanx.com/fiction/browse.php?type=categories&catid=1)

She writes fantastically unique McShep in some themes I adore, like alternate realities and dramatic get-togethers. Her Draconian Measures (http://davidhewlett.tarlanx.com/fiction/viewstory.php?sid=169) (xover with SG1, but not really necessary to have watched) and Atlantean Delicacy (http://davidhewlett.tarlanx.com/fiction/viewstory.php?sid=32) are particular favorites.

I also gotta second the suggestion of stargateficrec. It's a nice little comm with both SG1 and SGA recs that's got a pretty steady stream of recs, if not a waterfall. It's a very relaxed comm with incredibly sweet people.

Hope that helps, and don't drown in all the good fics. Smother in them! :D

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Haha, I am definitely feeling smothered. In the best kind of way :D

This is all tres helpful, many thanks!

[somehowunbroken]

Oh, welcome welcome welcome! I have a few non-McShep recs for you:

parrish_lorne has a ton of stuff that's all - as I'm sure you guessed - based on Lorne and Parrish. There's fic and art and recs and everything, and it's starting to get really active again, which is just awesome.

I'll for sure pimp out my OTP, which is John/Cam Mitchell, and the awesome comm sg_flyboys. They run a thing-a-thon exchange once a year, and just finished up their latest round - there's so much great stuff there! There's also The Big List of Cameron Mitchell/John Sheppard Fanfic, maintained by skieswideopen, if you get as hooked on the pairing as I have. :)

If you're interested in higher-rated fic, there's bottom_john and atlantiskink and sga_kinkmeme, among others.

Also, if you're looking for some personal favorites, I have quite a few marked out in my memories.

Once again, welcome! Enjoy :D

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

John/Cam? Let's see, two pretty pilot boys... yes, I can definitely live with that! ;) My knowledge of Cam is pretty limited since I haven't seen much of SG-1, but I'm sure that can be overcome.
Thanks for all of this, I'll def check out your favourite recs as well. Yay! :D

[kho.livejournal.com]

Hi. This is the fandom that will EAT YOU ALIVE if you let it. I mean that in a very awesome, fun-having sort of way. It can consume your life if you want it to. As you can tell by the amount of responses/recs you're getting as a newbie that came in a few years after the show ended. Just imagine if you'd gotten here in the middle of it!

Most everything I'd have to offer has already been covered, but I want to hard core second friendshipper as a gen author. She's great, great, great. And write LOOOONG fics, as well as medium sized and shorter fics as well.

I do hope for your sake that you can get into McKay/Sheppard, because I fear this fandom may be a bit frustrating for a non-McShepper. Not taht there isn't great gen or het out there, but that McShep is ya know.... that great big mountain up there looming over you chock full of awesome writing, and the gen/het is this little hill (also full of great writing, don't get me wrong) over on the fringe.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Hi, thanks! I went to take a 'quick look' at friendshipper's fic list late last night. Three hours later... ;D Needless to say, I am already hooked on the awesome.
Given how completely in love with David Hewlett I am, I don't think McShep is going to be a problem for me. I can't say I really shipped John with anyone while I was watching the show, but well written fic can get me on-board with almost any pairing. Thanks for the welcome!

[tenko-susanoo.livejournal.com]

Hm, a lot of good recs here.
I'm fairly new to the fandom myself so it was great to see a reccing post like this. I'm amazed that I've managed to find quite a lot of this before.
My personal favorites(at this very moment):

Anything by puddleofgoo ( http://puddleofgoofic.wordpress.com/other-fic/ ), particularly The Journey Home: John's Story in which John is forced to leave Atlantis, Rodney follows and they both relearn how to live on Earth.

This Delicate Thing We Made by race_the_ace ( http://www.wraithbait.com/viewseries.php?seriesid=277 ) a very beatiful John/Cameron story which features a world where they haven't reached Atlantis, John is a very different man and Cameron desperately wants to get to know John. 'Cameron Mitchell was head over heels for John Sheppard. Too bad John Sheppard wanted nothing to do with him.' I love the Rodney and Daniel we see here. The first time I read it I thought 'beautiful'. It's a sad and happy story.

Pegasus Purgatorio ( http://www.hawksong.com/~thammill/SGA_Fic/purgatorio.htm )is definitely one of my favorites. John is pretty smart, Rodney is resourceful and they both manage to save a galaxy. It's an epic sort of story.

Calling by meyari ( http://archiveofourown.org/works/56535 ) in which Atlantis is stuck on Earth - which 'she' really doesn't like -, ATA gene bearers all over the world realize that something is up and John, sort of, is tricked into being a cult leader(he's got the sweater to prove it). Refreshingly enough, it is gen.

The Difference Engine ( http://sam-storyteller.dreamwidth.org/149077.html ) in which John is a robot, and it's really not as weird as it might seem.

Bright Lights and Shadows ( http://community.livejournal.com/atlantis_slash/440325.html ) which has an outsider pov and mainly focuses on Rodney(though John is present). Oneshot.

The Great Doctor McKay ( http://me-ya-ri.livejournal.com/194106.html ) which features Rodney being stranded on a planet, everybody thinking he's dead and his long walk back to the stargate(fixing various things for people along the way). Very fun in a way, but also very angsty.

Oh, and anything by Keira Marcos is generally very good.

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Seems like a lovely (and varied) selection- thank you so much for taking the time!

[podfic-lover.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm a little late to the rec party here, though I would like to suggest another great source: podfics! What better recommendation could there be than the time and effort the readers invest into recording their favourite stories.

Hundreds of podfics in mp3 and audiobook format can be found in the Audio Archive (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/category/fandomstargate-atlantis) run by general_jinjur, including many of the above mentioned fandom-favourites.


Here a few of my personal favourites:


gen

- Sailor's Delight (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/search/node/Sailor%27s+Delight) by general_jinjur, read by aphelant - a BtVS/SG:A crossover, Night of the Comet fusion, dawn summers, jeannie miller. post-chosen, post-mckay and mrs miller. multiple character death.

- -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -. (Connection) (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/connection) by mad_maudlin, read by lunate8 - An accident offworld leaves Rodney feeling disconnected from the world around him. Luckily John and his friends are there.

- Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/search/node/Coulda%2C+Shoulda%2C+Woulda) by liketheriverrun, read by revolutionaryjo - Caring for your injured CO isn't the easiest job for a Marine. And Sheppard's isn't the only team on Atlantis.


slash

- Every Day In Every Way (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/every-day-in-every-way) by velocitygrass, read by general_jinjur - "I'm here to propose an arrangement. Between us. I assume you remember our talk from earlier today and how... challenging dating can be on Atlantis. And since we've established that you're attracted to me, I think it would be mutually beneficial for us to have sex."

- Light On (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/light-on) by lavvyan, read by winkingstar - "Leave a light on," John says, "so I can find you again," and Rodney does.

- Nantucket AU (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/search/node/Nantucket) by aesc & dogeared & sheafrotherdon & siriaeve, read by the_oscar_cat McKay/Sheppard Earth AU

- Walk This Way (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/walk-this-way) written/read by yin_again - McKay/Sheppard AU "That's a big cat."

This is just the tip of the iceberg really. :)

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Yay, podfics! I do love these since I spend a lot of hours in the car each week. Thank you very much for the recs! :)

[sarcastic-fi.livejournal.com]

this is off topic but are there SPN fic faves? Where can I find them? Sorry, got distracted!

[carrykay.livejournal.com]

Lol- easy to understand, given the temptation of said distraction :D

I don't want to disrespect the comm mod's rules on content, so I'll PM you about this.

[kathrynparis.livejournal.com]

If you're a fan of mcweir or would like to give it a try? This is a great archive for it. There really are some wonderful fics here. It's my second OTP from this show. Though it was my first. Now I'm a die hard mcshep shipper. But I really do enjoy both. Anyway. Here's the link. here.http://www.mcweir.com/

Rodney/Elizabeth Epic long fic

[kathrynparis.livejournal.com]

Oh, and here are a few of my favorite Rodney/Elizabeth stories ever. Happy reading!

Because of You By Ravenheart Rodney and Elizabeth discover a device that increases desire. Rated MA. http://mcweir.com/archive/viewstory.php?sid=346&chapter=1 46040 words

Love Bites By Ravenheart Rodney has feelings for Elizabeth. She begins a relationship with John causing Rodney anguish.38390 words. Rated MA This one is so my favorite. http://mcweir.com/archive/viewstory.php?sid=346&chapter=1

In Your Head By Captain Peregirne What would happen if Rodney had been trapped in Elizabeth's head? 33280 words