Top SGA Online Fic 2006

[icarus]

Just out of curiosity, if one were to compile a list of the top/best/most influential/memorable slash and/or gen fics of this year --

-- which ones would you include?

I have in mind to start with synecdochic's "Freedom's Just Another Name For Nothing Left To Lose." That one's easy, it's amazing and powerful and swept the fandom like a tidal wave.

But what other tidal waves have hit this year? The Post Secret challenge? I mean, if I were collecting the most influential/top fics characterizing 2005 I'd have an entire section devoted to the sga_flashfic's Harlequin challenge.


ETA: Okay, skimming the mega-reviewed fics on sga_flashfic gives us a start. Now on to the Fan Awards.

ETA2: Ah. The tricky part is when the story was written. About two thirds of the Stargatefanawards stories are from 2005. Hmm. Perhaps run backwards through the sga_newsletter for familiar names. Also, might need to stick to slash.

ETA3: Okay, picking through stories, using a baseline number of reviews as an indicator of fandom interest, then appearances on rec-lists, and on del.icio.us, the story discussion such as the immense amount of discussion spawned by "Freedom's Just...". I'll probably do a poll at some point, something open-ended to gather opinions.

A couple of interesting flavors that have turned up this year:

1) western AUs and the influence of "Brokeback Mountain,"
2) curling,
3) the final carryover from last year's penguins, unicorns, dolphins,
4) reel_sga,
5) some controversies, "Will the real John please stand up?" and "Has McShep taken over the fandom?" and BDSM fic, though I want point to a story.
6) it seems silly crack!fics have given way to careful, world-building AUs.

Not sure how this'll be put together. A rec-list of sorts? With a contextualized commentary?

ETA4: "Okay, picking through stories, using a baseline number of reviews as an indicator of fandom interest, then appearances on rec-lists, and on del.icio.us, the story discussion such as the immense amount of discussion..."-?? When did I change my name to McKay? This is the fault of reading your McKay fics, all of you.

ETA5: Trends pointed out by toft_froggy -

7) DADT fics
8) Darker fics in general
9) Darker, more fucked-up John

Almost forgot bruinsfan's point -

10) John/Mitchell SGA/SG1 crossovers

Comments

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

The "A Farm In Iowa" series is perfect. And it's an ideal illustration of the influence of Brokeback Mountain on the fandom, yes.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

That's a fascinating take! I'm curious - how do you see it demonstrating the influence of BBM? :)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

There was an upwelling of "farm/western AUs" after "Brokeback Mountain" came out, infused with the silence and yearning of that film (if not with the sense of tragedy). This is an excellent example because you even have the impact of death and that sense of searching, of finding one's way, that pervaded Brokeback.

Icarus

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

Ahhh - so you think it resonated with fandom at large because of that? (I know it had nothing to do with how I wrote it - I'd simply moved away from Iowa, and missed it a great deal, so channeled that into a story about the place I loved).

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Whereas before Brokeback people would have tipped their heads in confusion at this idea... why Iowa? ... Brokeback gave it layers of tension and meaning (and sadness) for the reader, even if they've never been interested in Iowa. There are several stories written this year that have a similar "flavor" if you will.

Icarus