Fig Newton's SG-1 Gen Recs

Rec Category: Samantha Carter
Categories: drama, action/adventure, hurt/comfort, team, SG-1/SGA crossover, Teal'c, Jack, Daniel
Warnings: none
Author's Journal: isawet
Author's Website: Isawet on AO3
Link: Diminishing Returns

Why This Must Be Read: Part of me thinks this reads so well to me because, like Sam in this story, I am an outsider to SGA trying to work it out. But most of me thinks this is simply a fantastic, gripping fic that both SGA and SG-1 fans can love!

This is early Sam-in-command-of-Atlantis, still dealing with she's-not-Elizabeth-Weir resentment from the Atlantis team. This is Sam, dealing with a mystery and bad guys with courage and brains and sheer determination. This is Sam and Teyla being awesome together and the team working flawlessly. Add some delightful SG-1 crossing over with superb characterization, and you've got a long, satsifying read that'll definitely leave you wanting more!

One final note: the author labels this as "S/J, but could be read with gen goggles." There was only a single line or two in the final paragraphs that required me to settle my gen goggles firmly on my nose to read as casual male/female friendship, but for Sam/Jack fans, consider that aspect a bonus.

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Rec Category: Jonas and Vala friendship
Categories: Sam and Jonas friendship, angst, hurt/comfort, post-series
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: gingasaur
Author's Website: Gingasaur at AO3
Link: Wherever We Go

Why This Must Be Read: I could try to be pithy and summarize this as "Vala and Jonas bond over being tortured by the Ori," but this story has much greater depth than that. It's an honest, clear-eyed look at a long, painful recovery from abandonment, pain, and loss of hope. This is a perfect Vala and an excellent Jonas, with bonus well-characterized Sam, dealing with the fallout of Langara's fall to the Ori. It feels very real, and very well done.

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Rec Category: Sam and Teal'c friendship
Categories: character study, ep related, remix
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: butterflykiki
Author's Website: ChristinaK at AO3
Link: The Gravity Remix

Why This Must Be Read: Once upon a time, I recced Beatrice Otter's painfully powerful The Weight of Non-Existent Years. Here is the remix of that story, told from Sam's POV: much less angst, with the same stellar characterization, and a tribute to a beautiful friendship.

How do I bear this reminder of the symbiote, of Jolinar, of naquadah, of the enemy inside me? With feet planted and shoulders squared. How do I better accept insults from so-called superiors without the temptation to lose my composure every time? With irony added to the hard eyes, and no actual deference, although my chin is up. How do I deal with the utter absurdity of an alien race? With a raised eyebrow and deadpan delivery, perspective and the sucker-punch remark. How do I face the death of friends? With mourning, and respect, and persistence in the face of absence. Indeed. In deed.

Rec Category: Sam and Vala friendship
Categories: humor, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: jedibuttercup
Author's Website: Jedi Buttercup at AO3
Link: V is for Velocity

Why This Must Be Read: Vala thinks Sam's oh-so-sober rationalizations for having fun are adorable, but she's more than willing to join her!

A lovely post-series friendship piece, complete with the promise of allies surviving the Ori. What more do you need?


"Oh, no," Vala replied, breezily. "Just wondering. Teal'c said we were coming here to reconnect with long-missed allies. Colonel Mitchell said we'd be spreading the good word about the final defeat of the Ori. The IOA spokesman said we'd be renegotiating for technology from a position of greater strength. And Daniel gave you a wink and told us not to have too much fun. One of these things is not like the others, Sam. What are we really doing on Hebridan?"

Rec Category: Crossover
Categories: Vala, Jeannie Miller, drama, action/adventure
Warnings: crossover with SGA
Author on LJ: sholio
Author's Website: Sholio at AO3
Link: Another Day at the Office

Why This Must Be Read: A great outsiderish perspective in the form of the very civilian Jeannie Miller, who is stuck offworld with a wounded Vala and a hopefully not-dead Daniel who is supposed to have gone off for help. I love her rambling thoughts and anxiety, and her interactions with Vala. Add a cameo or two from Cam and Jack for a most satisfying adventure!


Note to self, Jeannie thought, throwing herself down behind a crumbled rock wall as an explosion kicked sand and smoke into the desert sky. Next time the SGC wants you to consult for them, do like the American drug ads tell you, and just say NO.

Rec Category: Ronon Dex
Categories: SGA, Daniel, Sam, Sam and Daniel friendship, humor, drama, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: annerbhp
Author's Website: Fic Master List
Link: Cliff Diving for Dummies and Eclipse

Why This Must Be Read: Here are two short gems of Ronon fic during the Sam-in-command era: one light-hearted ficlet with Daniel, and one more serious fic with Sam. Even a non-SGA fan like me can enjoy these, so if you're a Ronon fan at all, you're sure to love them!

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Rec Category: Bra'tac
Categories: character study, Teal'c, Apophis, pre-series, post-series
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: thothmes
Author's Website: unknown
Link: U is for Unspoken

Why This Must Be Read: This is a fabulous sketch of Bra'tac, arcing across the decades and played against a strong theme of silence: his first stirrings of doubt as a chal'ti, his lonely search for fellow rebels, his initial observations of Teal'c and then of the Tau'ri. Thothmes finishes with a lovely scene of Teal'c and Bra'tac together, content in silent contemplation of their ultimate victory in achieving freedom.

(Literally) quietly triumphant, and a read to savor.

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Rec Category: Jack and Daniel friendship
Categories: post-series, humor, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: tallulah_rasa
Author's Website: To Explore the Universe and Eat Pie
Link: A Cinderella Story

Why This Must Be Read: Another gem from the queen of gen fic: Jack and Daniel, post-series. Jack's subconscious and Daniel in a gown with optional tiara. Sparkling banter, lots of meaning-of-life-stuff, and enduring friendship. This fic is just joy!

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Rec Category: Teal'c and Cam friendship
Categories: post series, character study, angst
Warnings: spoilers for Continuum, including canonical deaths
Author on LJ: wishfulaces
Author's Website: Aces at AO3
Link: A Pleasant Road

Why This Must Be Read: This fic is twisty and heartachy and comforting, all at once: Cam in Continuum, missing Teal'c and thinking of would-have-beens; an older Cam in the loop-within-the-loop, agonizing over what-there-is; and the happy ending of a Cam and Teal'c afterwards, looking forward to what-can-be.

Lovely word pictures, a shared love for the planet, and the spare, unspoken friendship of a road trip make this a story to truly savor.

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Rec Category: Cassie
Categories: Cassie, Vala, friendship, angst, post-series
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: annerbhp
Author's Website: Fic Master List
Link: Surrogate

Why This Must Be Read: Cassie breaks her leg. Vala is assigned to be her caretaker. And nothing is quite what Cassie expects...

Stellar characterization, lovely introspection, fantastic Vala, and a realistic, adult Cassie -- this one is a real treat.

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Rec Category: Tok'ra
Categories: pre-series, post-series, Vala, Anise, character study
Warnings: reference to off-screen torture and assault
Author on LJ: sixbeforelunch
Author's Website: Author's page on AO3
Link: Point of Intersection

Why This Must Be Read: This fic extrapolates beautifully from what we know of Vala's backstory, giving us her recovery from Qetesh's removal... under the supervision of Anise. Cool pragmatic scientist meets flamboyant con woman, and the results are simply fantastic! Add an explanation for Anise's choice of clothing, some perspective on the Tok'ra's reactions to the events of Stargate: the Movie, and stellar characterization for both women, and you'll find this story an absorbing, fascinating read.


She's going to kill Lantash for this. Her work is far too important to be interrupted by humanitarian aid simply because Lantash feels guilty that he had to torture this woman. And now Freya is locked inside her own mind, not even offering suggestions on how to deal with the woman, reliving her own treatment at Ra's hands all those many years ago.

Rec Category: Gen
Categories: Mitchell, Sam and Daniel friendship, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: sg_betty
Author's Website: Fiction Index / Vid Index
Link: Lost Over Time

Why This Must Be Read: This is a gorgeous post-series Sam and Daniel friendship piece, with Cam as the catalyst to help the Wonder Twins remember that there's still a little wonder left in the universe. Gentle, thoughtful, bittersweet, and feeling just right.

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Rec Category: Episode Related
Categories: Mitchell, Daniel, post-series
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: sg_betty
Author's Website: Fiction Index/Video Index
Link: Hypotheticals

Why This Must Be Read: In this thoughtful post-Ark of Truth story, Cameron is perceptive enough to recogize certain warning signals regarding Dr. Daniel Jackson and head him off at the pass. I love the deliberate calm of Cameron here, the gradual spreading of his spinning web to include the entire team, and his wry acknowledgment that of course Daniel would never leave things as they are. Excellently insightful, and well worth the read!

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