Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose by synecdochic (PG)

[kylielee1000.livejournal.com]

Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Author on LJ: synecdochic
Author Website: Venus In Furs
Why this must be read: Can 22 pages of LJ comments be wrong? synecdochic is also a popslasher, and her stylistic bravura is in evident in this well-titled story, a futurefic character piece with Rodney McKay as a college prof. synecdochic's plot about his classes--typically McKay difficult--and mentoring weaves with asides about the events that happened on Atlantis (Why did McKay leave? Where is Sheppard?), but the story is about life, love, loss, and ambition. Under it all flows a current of emotion, all tied to Atlantis, that threatens to tug McKay--and the reader--into either happiness or devastation. This is quite simply a beautifully written piece that's about important things ("To say it was all worth it trivializes something so profound he knows he will never have the words to articulate it"), with a McKay changed and tempered--believably so--by his experience.

Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose (PG)

After reading the fic, check out the extended DVD spoiler commentary, where she talks about writing it.

Comments

[almightychrissy.livejournal.com]

That fic is seriously like being repeatedly kicked in the stomach and then sitting there as the pain fades, watching the most beautiful thing in the world unfolds in front of you.

Thanks for recc-ing it; I was wondering when it would show up here.

[kylielee1000.livejournal.com]

Word.

I was surprised it wasn't here, so of course I had to rec it!

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

I love this story with a passion. It is long, involved, slow to creep up and the reader as to the progresssion McKay is going through, and both devastating and uplifting at the same time.

And it really is long. Reserve enough time to read it. It is worth it.

Oh. My. God

[otaku-li.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reccing this fic. It is amazingly beautiful, and I'm so glad to have read it, even if it made me cry for about half an hour.

[rabbitwrath.livejournal.com]

...is there a pan-fandom 'best recs of all time' list somewhere? Because this needs to be on it.

I've been reading fic since I was a child, been through more fandoms than I can count, and right now I cannot remember ever being more moved by a story.

Thank god all fic isn't this good, I'd be an emotional wreck inside a week!