1969 Prime by Redbyrd (PG)

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Gen

Pairing: None
Characters: SG-1; George Hammond
Category: Action/Adventure; Alternate Universe (timeline); Angst; Drama; Missing Scene
Warning: AU character deaths
Author on LJ: redbyrd_sgfic
Author's Website: http://www.mindspring.com/~redbyrd/index.htm

Link to Story: 1969 Prime

Why this should be read:

This is another "oldie but goodie". I went looking for it after discussing the chicken and the egg dichotomy of "1969" with a friend, and got enraptured by the tale all over again. (Aside: Found it by searching here and finding it in another category--d'oh! I'd forgotten redbyrd had penned it, bonus!).

Basically the story explores and answers a niggling time travel theory paradox of the episode. At one point, there had to have been an initial timeline where George Hammond would not have known to leave himself a note. This is that first 1969. Redbyrd repeats an occasional moment or two from the episode, but this is different timeline, so the context can be very different. It's a nice blending of canon and what could be/should be canon.

All the characters' voices are expertly depicted, including a young but very confused officer and gentleman, Lt. George Hammond. As I state in the warning, this is not the SG-1 version that's successful in getting home, and they are in a sense "our" team, so tissue warning, but please muddle through the sadness.

Redbyrd continues George's tale through the decades in wonderful glimpses of backstory until we meet our team. Every step of the way, the details are plausibly explained, but it's not a physics text, it's a fantastic story!

Read it! If you already have, reread it. It's great. And if you still can't get enough, read the prequel of the initial timeline's Stargate program history, Prime Minus 1 too!

Choices Made, by Elyse Dickenson (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, gen, angst, hurt/comfort, drama, humor, team
Warnings: Daniel-whumping
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Elyse at StargateFan
Link: Choices Made 

Why This Must Be Read: A story that can twist perception on its ear is always fun. In Choices Made, Elyse manages this not once, but twice.

The story seems, at first, to be a typical "Danny-whumping" fic – the team comes tumbling back into the SGC, with Daniel in need of serious medical attention, the only one singled out by the bizarre aliens. There's the team's worry over his health, and Hammond's concern that Daniel's torture might have resulted in spilled secrets crucial to the safety of the SGC - especially as Daniel has no memory of what he endured. But events tilt sideways when the real underlying cause for his illness is diagnosed, and we're well into black humor when the SGC technicians manage to salvage Daniel's filming of events to find out what actually happened. 

And then, just when you think it's over, the story makes another left turn when an ally shows up with a belated warning – and the complete truth of what happened on PL4-6Z9, and the horror that they narrowly evaded, is finally fully revealed.

My favorite highlights include Teal'c's delightfully smug and accurate assessment of Daniel's accomplishment, Janet's sputtered realization of the ultimate cliché, and Daniel's attempts at a codicil for his will. Cassie, I'm sure, would have been touched!
 

( Snippet of fic... )

Inaugural Weekend by Denise (PG-13)

[angelsgracie.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Jonas Quinn

Pairing: Jonas/Janet-ish
Category: Season Six, Het
Warning: Het
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author's Website: Emerald City
Link: Inaugural Weekend

Why This Must Be Read: There are so few authors who write Jonas Quinn, and even fewer who write him well. I have definite opinions on what I want in my Jonas fic. There is a wide-eyed wonder and curiosity to the man, but there's a way to portray that and a way not to portray that. What I love about Denise's Jonas fics is that her feelings toward the character are obvious in the stories she writes. There is compassion and understanding and he's not portrayed as a kid. There can be wonder and curiosity in adults as well, and she's fabulous at bringing him to life.

What this fic does, though, is make me want more Jonas/Janet. I read this fic and I see a great prelude to a relationship I wouldn't have minded reading more from her. I do admit that I am primarily a Jonas/Sam shipper, but the way Denise writes this story, I am more than willing to broaden my horizons.

The characterizations are right on and there's a scene between Sam and Janet that I think is just great. It's just one of the best Jonas fics I have read and definitely deserved to win the Isis Award.