Spoiler freeeeeee! Free as the wind bloooooows!

[icarus]

I scanned my flist today, and jlh wrote about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Pince spoilers and what's general knowledge and how everyone should avoid spoilers and --

-- I realized that my Stargate obsession is well-timed. Even the things that were general knowledge were new to me.

So!

If you want to avoid HBP spoilers... come with me... to the dark side of Stargate. Roam the so very obviously gay relationship between a hardassed colonel and a smart-mouthed academic. Enjoy the tensions surrounding Don't Ask Don't Tell and high action scifi adventure.

Hide in the Stargate for the next week. It does, after all, send you halfway across the galaxy.

Here I will rec long, involving, beautifully written stories that are recommended by all and sundry. The Stargate readers will be disappointed as "everyone" has read these. But! You shall be diverted, saved from spoilers...

... and halfway across the galaxy.

The show runs in a near continuous loop on the SciFi channel. Pop in. Watch one show. Then you're ready for slash. There are two Stargate shows: Stargate SG-1, and Stargate: Atlantis. The Jack/Danielness is on the former (the original).

Basic premise: the Air Force got their paws on ancient alien technology abandoned on earth that allows us to step through and go to other planets. It's called a Stargate and is way coool.

It turns out there are bad guys out there (surprise!), namely a race of snakey creatures (see? you Slytherins are already at home) that bore into humans' necks, wrap around the brainstem and take over their bodies. These beings are arrogant bastards (ah, the Malfoy fans sigh in relief) who feel humans are lesser beings and enslave them throughout the galaxy.

What? Why are there all these humans out there, do you ask? Because these snakey creatures (called the Goa'uld) grabbed humans from our planet as slaves when they ruled Ancient Egypt, until a human uprising overthrew them (hurrah Gryffindors!) and buried the Stargate. So human life evolved on our planet but was scattered throughout the galaxy. Many of these human worlds are primitive because of Goa'uld domination, but a few are far advanced, having never experienced the Dark Ages, etc. (And see how the Ravenclaws perk up at such an interesting historical context. Yes, it's more social science fiction than science fiction.)

Theme: Pandora's box has been opened, and now we're in over our heads.

On To The Slash! So what's the basics behind Jack and Daniel? Bottom-line -- Col. Jack O'Neill's young son accidentally killed himself with Jack's gun. The military needed someone willing to die if what they found through that Stargate was Bad News (that's the military for you). The rock-jawed and sarcastic colonel was depressed and perfect for the job. (Ah, themes of self-sacrifice and self-destruction... the Sirius fans are overjoyed.)

Dr. Daniel Jackson, Ph.d., was an Egyptologist laughed out of the field for his (accurate) crackpot theories. Broke and essentially too arrogant and earnest to not ruin himself, the military scooped him up for the Stargate program. He got the thing to work, with no clue the military was willing to destroy whatever they found on the other side. For the bright-eyed and innocent intellectual, it's all a fascinating adventure. (Did I mention he was painfully good-looking?)

He and the colonel, er, don't hit it off. (Oh, you Snape/Harry fans say "tell me more...")

Eventually they come to a common ground and friendship that reawakens the colonel's will to live. And you slashers can read that any way you want. ;)

On the show, these two flirt. Whether it's the colonel making eyes at Daniel across the briefing room table, or laying his hand on Daniel's shoulder and saying "go to your happy place, Daniel," or the way they angle towards each other and stand sooooo easily in each other's personal space, they're close. For Daniel's part, he's appealingly disconcerted, gazes admiring and worshipful, then argumentative -- and oh, these two can fight. They have opposite views on almost everything, and their arguments are as passionate and intense as their... cough... friendship.

But Enough Of This Backstory - Where Can I Hide?

Dr. Jackson's Diary by Anais - NC-17. Maya fans, you have found your temporary home in this hysterically funny bordering on slapstick loooong piece.

The Steak Series by Keiko Kirin - NC-17. If you love slow-building awkward sex, hide here.

Out of Season By Anna - NC-17. Rich and complex, gorgeously written. A wonderful place to lose yourself.

The Other Half By Anna - NC-17. This is the best slave story I've ever read. Jack is given a gift, one that he is reluctant to give up.

Pavlov by Kalimyre - NC-17. Very. How are you with dubious consent? Yes, this is definitely one for the Harry/Snape fans: pure sex.

Reveille by Lady Of Shalott - R or NC-17, I don't remember. Okay, so dubious consent is pretty common in this world. This one has the added bonus of plot, humour, and some abuse of that power.

Ciphers by Destina Fortunato - PG, pre-slash. Did you love Contemporary Magical Innovations or Transfigurations? Here we have a plot and circumstance that is just as interesting.

Loki's Curse by Jonah in the Whale - NC-17. Gentle and slow-build, perfect for the Remus/Sirius fan in any family.

Grown Men Don't Freak by Annie D and Katryne - NC-17. Ah, denial can be so entertaining. For you Ron/Draco fans who love Ron's reaction of utter disbelief.

Double Bed by Komos a.k.a. Paian - NC-17. Very direct, very male. There's an edge to this story that will appeal to the Snape-fan.

Sinner's Grove By Martha -- NC-17. Some non-con for you amanuensis1 fans.


Almost 100 more stories for you.

But what do these guys look like, do you ask? Fortunately lizardspots has drawn lovely art for we HP fans.

Come take a Stargate vacation and emerge refreshed, rejuvenated, and spoiler free.

Comments

[turtlespeaks.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately that I love you!? Like, a lot?

Cause, yeah, I do. *dives head first into the wonderful fics* THANK YOU!!

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Damn! I love it. What a good idea. I almost wish I wasn't in the fandom already, so I could join all the HPers as they find a new obsession! Although I have to admit, there were a couple on that list that I haven't read yet. Thanks for the recs... *g*

[monzz.livejournal.com]

This is presented so well, even the most hardcore Potternut could understand it. If only I wasn't already caught up in the snarkiness of J/D already. *grins* There are a good few here I haven't read yet, and shall make plans to do so.

Thank you so much for setting this out in idiotproof format, for the certain people like me far too frazzled because HPB is coming in about 10 days or so. Nine days and six minutes for me....

And Lizard's art? To die for. :)

[monzz.livejournal.com]

Oh, and maybe it's just me... the link to Sinner's Grove doesn't work.

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the link didn't work for me, either, so I went looking and found different one. Try this one: Sinner's Grove.

Good fic, intense, but very good.

[cynnamon37.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Just...thank you!! :) I'm relatively new to the SG-1 fandom, having kind of back-ended into it from Stargate Atlantis, and am now almost as addicted to it as Atlantis and House. Again, thanks for the fic recs...Some I've read, but many I haven't, so lots of reading to look forward to! Yay!

[brandinsbabe.livejournal.com]

oh sweeeet!
i have so much reading to do now hehe :)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Whooops. Sorry about that. Uh-oh, this means I have to fix it on my rec-list.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You are so very welcome. :D

Wow. I think I'm going to enjoy HBP a lot more than OotP. Order of the Phoenix was really ruined for me because I knew going in that one of the characters was going to die: I spent the entire book stressing over who it would be and couldn't get into it.

This time -- I don't wanna know.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

The two fandoms make a nice contrast to each other: HP has all these sleek young kids getting their first tastes of adulthood; Stargate has adults with baggage and marriages and history. You know a staggering amount about the HP characters, especially Harry. With Jack and Daniel, you're outside looking in, so you have to delve between the lines and weave a backstory.

I don't mean to steal HP readers, but I really think this is a good way to step back, avoid the flurry, and sink into Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince like a nice long bath.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you very much. I'll fix it on my website, too.

Great story, perfect for amanuensis1 readers. I think you're not into the Harry Potter world at all, right? If not, Amanuensis is known for her non-con. One of her most famous stories is called "And Just Plain Wrong" -- which aptly describes it.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh now that's interesting. Which ones haven't you read?

Hear, hear on Lizard's art. She's just so talented.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh good, you're welcome. These are all fairly long, involved stories that, depending on how fast you read, should keep you busy for the next five days or so.

Let me know when you surface. I have 23 stories I need to add to the rec-list, one of which is particularly excellent.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Dive in!

I really do have to update that rec-list.

Icarus

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

I don't really think of it as stealing readers, more like sharing them. I think it's a good idea to be involved in more than one fandom. I know what you mean about the contrast: that's exactly why I got into SG-1 in the first place. Of course your contrast is more fantasy vs scifi and innocent youth vs battle/life scared adults; while mine is all about scifi with mostly happy endings vs harsh, reality based prison drama where there's no such thing as a happy ending. But the idea works the same - the contrast/change of pace is a good idea. At least it works for me.

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

No problem. I love that fic. But then, I read a lot of non-con.

[feygan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links! I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not that hot to read the next Harry Potter book. I guess I'm just scared I'm going to be disappointed, like with Anita Blake. And, you know, I somehow find myself more into the fan-side of HP than the canon. It's bad when you like a fanfic story better than the official books.

Oh yeah, and Stargate? I've totally been sucked into the Atlantis side of things. I've even started a links post at my LJ. I've gone through most of the Jack/Daniel stuff, and now I've been seduced by the McShep. You should check them out. The Dark Side of the Gate; join us and I will be your daddy ::heh::

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. I was checking out Oz the other day. Somehow I fear I won't be able to get WG involved in that one. :D

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*grins* I don't have cable so I've never seen Atlantis and probably won't until it's on network television. I know Atlantis is really hot right now but, Jack/Daniel... how can you go wrong?

Icarus

[feygan.livejournal.com]

See, the thing is that I've read a ridiculous amount of Jack/Daniel. I've seen every kind of Jack/Daniel there is and some that probably never should have existed for the love of God.

But the McShep... it's so shiny and new. And Joe Flannigan? He's so goofy, and cute, and... yeah.

[feygan.livejournal.com]

Allow me to reiterate in non-anonymous posty style... Oops.

[tigerlilly2063.livejournal.com]

Love your little illustration. Never tried to compare Stargate and HP before, but I do see it now. There's something for everyone.

Unfortunately I'll have to hide into Stargate for more than a week since the book's coming out here only at the beginning of October and I stubbornly refuse to buy the english version 'til all of them are out and I can get a nice package. *sigh*

Hmmm, lovely list of fics. Know a few of them but there's still so much to read for the next months. *gets lost in the J/D-loveliness*

[ness-va.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links - I need a way to stay distracted or else I'm going to end up spoiling myself for HBP!

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Don't think Oz is the guru's style, huh? Well, it takes a certain mindset, I have to admit. I never expected to get so sucked into it, myself. But the very first episode I watched was the declaration of love by the canon gay love interests, and it just blew me away. Watching two hot guys in a very steamy first kiss - well, I had no choice, I had to see more!

I'm doing my best to get paian hooked on Oz. She's only six episodes in, so far, but she's really getting into it. Makes me happy. If she can write intense fic like "For Now" for Stargate, I can just imagine what she could do with Oz! Heh heh heh...and see, I don't want to steal her from SG-1, as a matter of fact I'd be very disappointed if she stopped writing Stargate, but there's no reason she can't do both, is there? *g*

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy Atlantis when you get a chance to see it. I like Atlantis myself, but as much as I enjoy the series, and love the fic even more, Atlantis will never touch SG-1 for me. Of course, I say that now, with season 9 looming on the horizon. Without Jack, the show will never be the same. But even so, I don't ever see Rodney McKay and John Sheppard taking the place of Jack and Daniel. Just ain't gonna happen. Because there will always be the first 8 seasons of SG-1 to obsess over. *g*