Spectator Sport by sg_fignewton (G)

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Humour
Pairing: No Pairing
Category: Jack, Sam
Warning: Takes place in Season 5
Author on LJ: sg_fignewton
Link:  Spectator Sport

Why This Must Be Read:
Sam does have a wicked sense of humour and this is a subtle showing of Sam and Jack watching a figurative train wreck about to happen. It's something I could read again.

Blue Suede Shoes and Bicycles by witchofthedogs (M by Reccer)

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Humour

Pairing: None

Category: Atlantis,

Warning: Through Sunday (Season 3)

Author on LJ: witchofthedogs

Link: Blue Suede Shoes and Bicycles

Why This Must Be Read:

John believes Elvis is to blame for the current situation in Atlantis.

Just to see Ronan and a bicycle and because Lorne is one of my favourites 

Returning and Returning by raqs (dith), NC-17

[zats-clear.livejournal.com]

And just in under the wire, I find the best schmoop I have read in ages, as evidenced by my ear-to-ear grin.  FYI - I am defining "schmoop" as "romantic story with no action plotline" for the purposes of this post.

Rec Category: Slash
Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson
Category: slash, Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill, Daniel/Jack, romance
Warning: slash
Author on LJ: raqs 
Website:  http://dith.popullus.net/
Link: Returning and Returning

Why This Must Be Read: raqs wrote this story as a happy birthday offering and what a lucky birthday grrrl!  When I read Returning and Returning, I was struck by the natural mood created within the first few sentences - how years of knowing each other have ripened their relationship to something sweet and known.  Jack's actions and protests of age mesh beautifully with Daniel's subtle (and not so subtle) territorial behavior.  The dialogue is completely organic and the whole story is just plain good for your health.  Sprinkle with rolled oats and spoon it up, it'll do your heart some good!
 

Happy by IAmRightHere (aka SkyPig21) (K+)

[sholio]

Rec Category: Team

Pairing: none
Category: Atlantis, drama, h/c, gen, Ronon Dex
Warning: drug abuse
Author on LJ: iamrighthere
Author's Website: n/a
Link: Happy

Why This Must Be Read: There are many things I love about iamrighthere's stories, but what I love the most is that they're different. The plots are fresh and unpredictable, the writing style terse and brisk and unique, and she uses the characters in interesting ways.

This story is a fantastic example of all of the above. Most writers cast Ronon in the role of the strong one on the team: the backup, the rescuer, the comforter. But "Happy" begins with Ronon's fall -- trying to cope with his despair over the destruction of Sateda, and lingering issues from the Wraith enzyme in "Lost Boys", he becomes addicted to a potentially lethal Pegasus Galaxy drug, and drags his team into trouble with him. Meanwhile, Rodney's obsession with science turns out to be a potentially lethal addiction of its own. I can't say more without giving away the twists and turns of the well-crafted plot, but it's fast-paced, tense and satisfying, with plenty of action and wonderfully understated yet powerful emotion. It's also a frightening portrait of addiction, and the way that it can eat away at a person's soul. The characters are fallible and human, but their loyalty and love for each other is evident in everything they do -- even in betrayal.

( A sample of fic )

Tea Break by disc-on-tent (T)

[sholio]

Rec Category: John & Rodney friendship

Pairing: none
Category: Atlantis, h/c, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
Warning: references to torture (non-graphic)
Author on LJ: n/a
Author's Website: n/a
Link: Tea Break

Why This Must Be Read: Short, tense and painful, but ultimately hopeful. John's a good friend, and he watches his team's backs -- whether that means going "black ops" to get Rodney out of a terrible situation, or being able to help him find his way back from even darker mental places. I particularly loved the contrast that's visible here between John the ultra-competent soldier, and John the concerned friend.