Magnificent Desolation, by Abyssis (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Jack and Sam friendship
Pairing: none
Categories: Jack and Sam friendship, Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, gen, episode related, pre-series, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: abyssinia4077
Author's Website: Masterlist of Fanfiction
Link: Magnificent Desolation

Why This Must Be Read: I know that just about everyone has already read this incredible story. But if there's even a single fan who hasn't yet discovered Magnificent Desolation, then this rec is well worth it.

Abyssis lovingly, eloquently traces the history of space travel on Earth, and how it has intertwined with Sam and Jack's lives. She deftly weaves past events with show canon, showing us the unique bond that they share, with their love of flight and the stars that shine above them. This is the best kind of adult writing: penetrating, thought-provoking, satisfying, and beautiful.

If you are going to read just one Sam and Jack friendship fic, choose this one. You'll be moved to tears, and beyond.


Sam hadn’t forgotten NASA when she found herself in DC working on a top-secret project and she hadn’t forgotten when she transferred to Colorado and she hadn’t forgotten when she set foot on her first alien planet or her second or her third. She never forgot, but she did find something just as satisfying.

There was an irony somewhere that she’d been visiting alien planets for a year before she first boarded a spaceship and then she was too busy hiding from Jaffa and setting C-4 to really absorb the few times she could stop and take a breath near a window.

So it was understandable that when they were floating in the death gliders above Earth, she didn’t notice at first. Because she was still in mission-mode, trying to anticipate their next problem and deal with the current one and find some solution to get to where they had to be next and it’s not like Teal’c hadn’t seen this before (Teal’c, to whom television was a miracle and flying in space ships was old hat). Plus they’d just lost Daniel. Again.

So when Colonel O’Neill told her to look up it took her a minute to realize he wasn’t telling her to look and find a way out of this mess. He just wanted her to see.

Above her was the view she’d been dreaming of her entire life -- the Earth from above and the black void full of pinpricks of stars but mostly the Earth -- blue and green filling her vision. It was more amazing than she’d ever imagined as a kid, lying on a field beneath Orion and Cassiopeia, closing her eyes and dreaming she was flying.

For Teal’c and Bra’tac this was nothing new, but she’d seen the posters on O’Neill’s walls and the rocket models on his shelves and she knew he understood. She dared to think that if they died now, it wouldn’t be so bad. They’d saved Earth. And she’d seen this.

Comments

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

I know that just about everyone has already read this incredible story. But if there's even a single fan who hasn't yet discovered Magnificent Desolation, then this rec is well worth it.

*sticks tongue out*

Thank you :)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

::squishes Abyssis::

I know you still insanely think it's not as good as it should be, but if your fic was any better, it would make the internet explode. :)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

*sticks tongue out some more*

I've mostly accepted the fact that I will *never* be satisfied with this fic or understand why the rest of the world seems to not see any of the gaping flaws.

But I'm glad I don't make the internet explode. It does that enough without my help.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Truly, Abyssis, if this fic were any more awesome, people would die from reading it. Trufax!

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Hee, in that case I'm glad it doesn't live up to the potential in my head :)

[beanpot.livejournal.com]

Told you it was good. :)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

*sticks tongue out at you*

[asugar.livejournal.com]

I had never read of heard of this or read this and was completely moved to tears by it. One of the best SG-1 (or SGA) stories I've read. Thank for sharing the rec.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've enjoyed seeing your own new enthusiasm reccing here at the comm, even if I don't read SGA. :) And there's no greater compliment than seeing someone enjoy a fic you've recced!

[writinginct.livejournal.com]

I adore this fic to itty-bitty pieces.

And although a gen piece I think it also stands beautifully for the Sam/Jack shippers. Sort of a counter to all the "Jack and Sam have nothing in common" arguments.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

I could understand that, yes, although my gen glasses are always firmly in place. :)

Tallulah Rasa (my queen of gen fic!) has an essay on this: really good writing allows for subtext. If the characters are properly written, then the reader are allowed to draw their own conclusions as to motivation and intention. Sometimes, those conclusions can directly contradict the author's intentions, but that's another matter entirely. :)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

*blink*

Okay, for a lot of reasons I really don't ship Sam and Jack but...they do have a heck of a lot in common.

[maranya14.livejournal.com]

OK- I just went over and read this, and barely summoned up words to leave a response that was (hopefully) coherent, and did not come close to expressing my emotional response to this wonderful piece.

Thank you so much for recommending this. I've discovered some of my favourite stories in the SG-1 fandom, thanks to your tireless quest for the good stuff!

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's kind of how I feel about it, too. :)

Thanks for letting me know you're enjoying the recs!