Fandom: SGA
Pairing: Sheppard/OFC (though not the focus of the story)
Author on LJ:
samdonneAuthor Website: Derivative FictionWhy this must be read:This story is great science fiction. It showcases characters making some very hard choices, against a backdrop of a rich alien culture, with interesting plot, angst, H/c, and multiple layers of theme. (One of my big literary kinks)
This story is great fan fiction, delving into who John Sheppard is and exploring the Stargate universe, assembling bits and pieces of canon (such as the episode 'Allies' and the on-going genetics storylines) and extrapolating from them to create much more than the sum of its parts.
This story is future fic, raw and uncompromising in its conclusions, full of resonant emotional intensity. It's a novel, and I sank into the story as I read it, walking away with something approaching an emotional hangover when I was done.
Though of course, everyone's mileage on the reading experience will vary.
( opening scene )Your Cowboy Days are Over