"Mapping the Human Genome" by Anna Orr (NC-17)

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 1978
Pairing: Starbuck/Apollo
Author on LJ: annaorr
Author Website: Apollolover
Why this must be read: There's something about the premise of BSG that is innately melodramatic, perhaps because it's so epic in scale. The irony is that despite this galactic scope, there's all these long, empty hours between cylon attacks for the pilots to fill, and a limited number of venues in which to fill them. As a result, authors tend to focus on human drama of the most wonderfully soap operatic kind as a basis for their stories (and I don't mean that in any way as an insult--this type of story is generically known as "space opera" for a *reason*). And when it comes to this kind of space opera, the queen of the long, plotty, action-packed melodrama is definitely Anna...



Anna is easily my favourite BSG author. Her stories are always satisfying, even on the occasions I end up scratching my head (usually days later), and going, "Wait a minute! That's totally improbable!" The thing is BSG *is* totally improbable when you get right down to it: it's the fundamental nature of space opera to be epic and improbable. What Anna does so gobsmackingly well, is take those very elements and turn them into something completely readable, in a can't-put-it-down way. The only problem with this is that Anna tends to write stories of immense length. Days can go by while you're reading one of her fics. Please don't think I'm exaggerating. You have been warned!

"Mapping the Human Genome" is one of Anna's very best stories. It deals, as the tv series does, with the father/son relationship between Apollo and Adama, but adds in a plot twist of such fiendish delight it will take your breath away. It also has politics, intrigue, romance, friendship, traitors, fist fights, bad sons and good sons, bad fathers and good fathers, Egyptian symbolism, humour, tragedy, and revealing IFB broadcasts. Really, what more could anyone want of a fanfic?



This story could be considered AU, although it doesn't stray terribly far from the tv show's premise. However, if you don't like even mild AU, then this story probably isn't for you.

(My link goes through to the first chapter. Click on the links at the bottom of each page to move onto the next chapter.)

Mapping the Human Genome

Comments

[oreouk.livejournal.com]

Belatedly thank you for reccing this. I very nearly didn't read it but then made myself start again and then of course I couldn't put it down - what a great fic!

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know you liked it so much. I urge to read more of Anna's work--nearly all of her stories are worth a look. I've recced several of my favourites this month, but restrained myself, as there are several more I could have happily recced :)

And she's still writing in the fandom! Hardly anyone is anymore.

[oreouk.livejournal.com]

Oh don't worry - I have been. There's an interesting dichotomy in the writing between the short bits and the longer ones, which seem a lot better done overall, but then she's aiming for different effects I guess. I find the longer stuff eminently satisfying, and am hoping that eventually she'll take the Shield stuff up to the normal timeline and see what happens then :-)

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

I think some of the short ones were her first stories, and that's why the sex doesn't work as well as the humour or plot. I know that most of her epics were later works, because I saw them go live! It was so exciting to click on her site and see a new novel waiting for me :)