Better to Light a Candle, by Redbyrd (PG)
Jul. 20th, 2006 01:02 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
aurora-novarum.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
stargateficrecRec Category: Episode Related (Other)
Pairing: None; Daniel POV; team friendships
Category: Angst; Drama; Hurt/Comfort; Gen; Ep Related
Warning: canon character deaths of secondary characters
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
redbyrd_sgfic
Author's Website: http://www.mindspring.com/~redbyrd
Link to Story: Better to Light a Candle
Why This Must Be Read:
This relatively new fic was already rec'ced in the Daniel category a month or two ago, but it definitely deserves to be in the episode related section, since it's by someone I consider the best consistent author of great missing scene fic.
It's the story of "the Light", a bizarre episode in and of itself. This fic tells the story from Daniel's point of view, and since he was pretty out of it, some of the stranger periods of the tale are covered plausibly without dwelling too far on the surreal aspects.
Redbyrd deftly covers several of the awkward transitions in the episode, including how/why was Daniel changed into BDUs from the medical scrubs. She also always remembers Daniel's point of view will be limited by what he remembers of what happens. When he hangs out on the balcony of the palace, he can't quite understand Jack's strange reaction, but anyone who's seen the episode will get the reference instantly.
Daniel's suffering through his own demons as well. Redbyrd sets this fic up close on the heels of the events in "Absolute Power", so he's still wrestling with the dream. Some of Daniel's conclusions, like his interactions with Sam run a bit awkwardly, but are certainly food for thought. Other conversations with Jack are spot on.
Daniel's relationship with fellow orphan of archeology parents Loren is sweet without becoming too sappy. And Redbyrd's conclusion of what happened to the boy is one I've adopted as fanwank canon. But my favorite section of the fic is the beginning, with the camraderie of the ill-fated SG-5 are another matter that set this fic apart. She adds layers to the team that gives their death meaning. It also shows that all the SG teams, not just SG-1, are an impressive group of the best of the best.
Pairing: None; Daniel POV; team friendships
Category: Angst; Drama; Hurt/Comfort; Gen; Ep Related
Warning: canon character deaths of secondary characters
Author on LJ:
redbyrd_sgficAuthor's Website: http://www.mindspring.com/~redbyrd
Link to Story: Better to Light a Candle
Why This Must Be Read:
This relatively new fic was already rec'ced in the Daniel category a month or two ago, but it definitely deserves to be in the episode related section, since it's by someone I consider the best consistent author of great missing scene fic.
It's the story of "the Light", a bizarre episode in and of itself. This fic tells the story from Daniel's point of view, and since he was pretty out of it, some of the stranger periods of the tale are covered plausibly without dwelling too far on the surreal aspects.
Redbyrd deftly covers several of the awkward transitions in the episode, including how/why was Daniel changed into BDUs from the medical scrubs. She also always remembers Daniel's point of view will be limited by what he remembers of what happens. When he hangs out on the balcony of the palace, he can't quite understand Jack's strange reaction, but anyone who's seen the episode will get the reference instantly.
Daniel's suffering through his own demons as well. Redbyrd sets this fic up close on the heels of the events in "Absolute Power", so he's still wrestling with the dream. Some of Daniel's conclusions, like his interactions with Sam run a bit awkwardly, but are certainly food for thought. Other conversations with Jack are spot on.
Daniel's relationship with fellow orphan of archeology parents Loren is sweet without becoming too sappy. And Redbyrd's conclusion of what happened to the boy is one I've adopted as fanwank canon. But my favorite section of the fic is the beginning, with the camraderie of the ill-fated SG-5 are another matter that set this fic apart. She adds layers to the team that gives their death meaning. It also shows that all the SG teams, not just SG-1, are an impressive group of the best of the best.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-20 07:06 pm (UTC)I would strongly recommend reading Absolute (http://www.mindspring.com/~redbyrd/absolute.htm) before this one, though. The two stories flow naturally into each other and it gives Daniel's anxiety over Shifu's dream an even greater impact.
We need Redbyrd to write more fic. Greedy, I know. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-07-20 09:17 pm (UTC)Yes, redbyrd's inspiration was a sequel to her Absolute Power missing scene and it's definitely worth rec'cing, but I think Better to Light a Candle works very well as its own fic too.
As for more fic, you know she just published one for "Avatar" and another one from Lam's point of view in "Prototype" called "Do No Harm" right? (Disclaimer: The latter one I betaed, and I always feel kinda odd rec'cing fics I was involved with, however peripherally, but sometimes, as here, it's worth it).
no subject
Date: 2006-07-21 05:04 am (UTC)Of course the fic is a lovely stand-alone. I just think it has an even greater impact when you read them together.
As for her two new fics... yep, yep, read 'em. I did say "greedy"!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-21 02:46 pm (UTC)If you're out there, aiz, sorry for the misattribution!
Oh, I appreciate greedy. I'm always happy to read redbyrd fic. Yes, I try to stay one author per category per month...actually, trying to use different authors these two months of rec'cing (which is why redbyrd wasn't in recs of mine last month), but I'm likely going to do a repeat here or there...and I'm very seriously considering sticking my other FAVORITE redbyrd fic in the Daniel category this month.
I'm so fussy in trying to rec. For Ep Related, I try to not go all of one character, but spread it around (but any/all of my recs will be Gen. Sorry slashers/shippers, don't read enough of the genres to rec good ep relateds of those).