Indelible (Stargate Atlantis story)
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Indelible |
| Author(s): | shaenie |
| Date(s): | August 2008 |
| Length: | ~128,400 words |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Stargate Atlantis |
| External Links: | on LJ, on AO3 |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Indelible is an epic Stargate Atlantis fic that is often recced to fandom newcomers as a must-read story for its scope, pacing, and the deft execution of its many subplots.
It features a slowly growing relationship between John Sheppard and Rodney McKay, which is at times hindered and at others helped by, among other things, cultural misunderstandings, a seminal (though in no way intended as kinky) ritual spanking, the ingestion of immensely memory-enhancing tea, the discovery of additional Ancient technology on Atlantis and beyond, John's mathyness, spacebattles with the Wraith, a brilliant young Havildar (a fandom favorite OFC) in charge of security, Lorne's understanding, and somewhat inadvertent group telepathy.
Indelible was the winner for Best Canon AU and overall Best Story in the 2008 McKay/Sheppard Fan Awards.
It is also one of the most frequently requested stories at SGA Storyfinders -- usually for one or a few of a handful of regularly cited memorable elements, though it is regularly requested for more obscure elements as well -- where it is usually identified and linked to within minutes.
Recs and Reviews
This story is epic, one of the very best fics I read last year. Excellent, original plot that makes the most not just of the characters but of Atlantis itself; an intensely deep John POV that's always spot on; an OC who makes a very interesting addition to the cast and blends like she always belonged... simply fantastic. [1]
I could spend an easy two or three hours waxing rhapsodic about this story, but it earned a permanent spot in my top five fics ever a good three months before she'd even finished it. It's brilliant and unpredictable and refuses to take the cliched way out; it's a look at what life is actually like on Atlantis: i.e. freakish shit happens, and it's impossible to deal with, and you still have to do your job. [2]
The character voices are spot on, and I have to give major respect to anyone who willingly immerses themselves in John Sheppard's POV for 100k words, aka the most repressed man in two galaxies. Her portrayal of Rodney, especially, seen through John's eyes, is wonderful. The story belongs to John, though; how circumstances force him into self-knowledge and emotional intimacy and then remove his capacity to deny what's happening. There's an OFC COC (how I love fannish acronyms) who fits so easily into the established cast that if you didn't know SGA you'd assume she was canon (and how much I would love her to be) [...] [3]
It's a staggering feat of storytelling. The emotional compression's like a layer cake, every bite absolutely delicious (yes, I realize I've been using a lot of food metaphors). The quality of the writing is superb, the tension between John and Rodney is utterly spellbinding and it escalates in a way that gives full weight to the impact of desire, of devotion. It's really freaking erotic, and the architectural grandeur of the plot culminates in a metaphor of rhapsodic intimacy that will blow you away. [4]
The one about knowing down to the bone. The one with the cathedrae. The one with Cheema. The one. [5]
If I had to describe this fic in one word, that word would be EPIC. It’s nearly 130,000 words and what’s not to love about that? Shaenie has a great handle on the characters, and her OC is so likeable. Although Teyla and Ronon take more of a backseat in terms of roles, Lorne is given a primary role in the fic. And god, the UST in this fic burns so good, and it culminates into this hot sex scene. There’s epic space battles, telepathy, and more than one control chair in Atlantis. When I got my kindle, this was the first fic I saved to it. [6]
References
- ^ fic recs by astridv, 8 February 2009. (Accessed 26 April 2011).
- ^ Maximum Rec by fiercelydreamed, 31 July 2008. (Accessed 26 April 2011).
- ^ Drive by rec by rheanna, 6 August 2008. (Accessed 26 April 2011).
- ^ Brilliant fics ahoy. A reccing outburst. by perverse_idyll, 12 September 2008. (Accessed 26 April 2011)
- ^ rec/review by facetofcathy, 5 August 2008. (Accessed 26 April 2011); reference link.
- ^ Slash World, 2012