Title: J is for Justified
Author's LJ/DWJ: ivorygates
Categories: drama, angst, character study, on the edges of canon
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Fic Journal Table Of Contents
Link to story: J is for Justified

Why this should be read: Shau'nac deserves so much more than just to be a convenient catalyst for the creation of Tanith as Teal'c's new personal villain. And in this character sketch, stretching literally over nearly a century, Ivorygates highlights the enormity of the tragedy of Tanith's betrayal and Shau'nac's murder.


Shau'nac of the Red Hills had seen ninety-nine years come and go.

She would not see a hundred.

Title: N is for Nondisclosure
Author's LJ/DWJ: magibrain
Categories: on the edges of canon, character study, ep related, Jonas, Kianna Cyr, angst
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Magistrate on AO3
Link to story: N is for Nondisclosure

Why this should be read: This is a fantastic followup to Fallout: what happened to Kianna Cyr after the Goa'uld was removed, and how she deals with both Jonas, the Kelownans, and the ethical questions in the aftermath. With all the nuance and stellar characterization you expect from Magistrate, this one is a real keeper.

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Title: Time Heals All
Author's LJ/DWJ: sg_betty
Categories: Moebius, Sam and Daniel friendship, angst, on the edges of canon
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Fic Index
Link to story: Time Heals All

Why this should be read: Here are Moebius!Daniel and AU!Samantha, sitting on the sands of Ancient Egypt. This fic is a rarity: a Moebius!Daniel at peace with the choices he's made, and optimistic about a future that he himself will never get to see... and an AU!Samantha who is ready to hear about the woman she once was, even if it's never going to fit what she is right now.

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Title: Under a Cloudless Sky
Author's LJ/DWJ: stringertheory
Categories: AU, Sam and Daniel friendship, angst, on the edges of canon
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Fic List
Link to story: Under a Cloudless Sky

Why this should be read: So how does Doctor Carter choose to start picking up the pieces at the end of Point of View, after the quantum mirror shuts down? One good possibility is tracking down her reality's Daniel Jackson...

Here is a glimpse of a world shattered by Goa'uld invasion, a Daniel with a different background and history but still very much himself (brilliance, sharpness, and all), and the start of a new beginning of friendship and exploration through the Stargate.

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Title: Vala Alphabet Soup
Author's LJ/DWJ: n/a
Categories: valuable Vala, ep related, character study, friendship, humor, angst, drama, pre-series, post-series
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: n/a
Link to story: Vala Alphabet Soup

Why this should be read: It might be cheating a little to rec the Soup as a whole, especially since I organize the Soups and have actually written one of the fics. :) But here's a chance to read twenty-six great Vala fics at once, by 25 different authors! These are funny and painful and insightful and fluffy and thoughtful in turns, and you'll enjoy every last one of them. Don't forget to follow the links to the authors' individual journals and leave them feedback!

Title: Brain Bugs
Author's LJ/DWJ/AO3: thassalia
Categories: angst, humor, character: Cam, character: Daniel, character: Sam, character: Teal'c, era: Season 9-10
Warnings: None
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Fic tag at LJ
Link to story: Brain Bugs
Why this should be read: For movie night in the aftermath of 'The Scourge,' the team watches Starship Troopers. Unsurprisingly, and not all on account of the film, the tone of the evening shifts from bantery decompression to serious review of the choices they made on the mission. The cute parts of the fic are very cute, the discussion (and the fic-as-meta) is thought-provoking, and the characterization and Cam point-of-view hit just the right notes.

About 1500 words.

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Title: - ante meridiem - before midday -
Author's LJ/DWJ/AO3: agentotter | agentotter | otter
Categories: angst, character study, character: Daniel, character: Sam, character: Teal'c, drama, era: season 8
Warnings: Disturbing topic and images
Author's Webpage/Fic list: faded press (seems to be down, not sure if that's permanent) | SG-1 works at AO3 | Fic at AllDanielFic
Link to story: - ante meridiem - before midday
Why this should be read: A compact, wincingly painful fic that takes the potentially disastrous consequences of gate exploration one vast, harsh step further than 'One False Step.' The characteristic Otterfic twist comes earlier than usual, as the climax of the characterization-rich opening, in stark demonstration of why this had to be a Carter fic. She's efficient, prepared, famously problem-solving -- and this, like the traumatic event in her youth, cannot be fixed.

803 words.

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Title: The Cold Hard Equation
Author's LJ/DWJ: blahnicity
Categories: angst, character: daniel jackson, character: jack o'neill, character: samantha carter, character: siler, era: season 8, friendship: jack and sam, friendship: sam and daniel, theme: awesome women, theme: super sam
Warnings: implied character death
Author's Webpage/Fic list: SG-1 tag at yung_luk
Link to story: The Cold Hard Equation

Why this should be read: Sam. ♥
Or, in more coherent words: Sam Carter. Being science-y and saving the day. Being a pilot and saving the day. Living one of her dreams and saving the day. Making the hardest of all decisions, and saving the day.

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Title: Growing Pains
Author's LJ/DWJ: bungakertas
Categories: Jack, Jacob, Tok'ra, ep related, angst, friendship
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: tags list
Link to story: Growing Pains

Why this should be read: I love it when authors fill in the gaps between episodes. Here, we have a fantastic exploration of Charlie-the-Reetou's first weeks with the Tok'ra: his blending, his loneliness and uncertainty, some hard truths, and the beginnings of some real friendships. Just wonderful!

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Title: Between Two Waves of the Sea
Author's LJ/DWJ: stringertheory
Categories: angst, AU, character study, character: Daniel, character: Jack, character: Sam, character: Teal'c, drama, team, theme: quantum mirror
Warnings: None
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Fic list
Link to story: Between Two Waves of the Sea
Why this should be read: A thoughtful, lyrical ensemble piece in which the could-have-beens ghost across the gaps between quantum realities, brush the characters like soft breaths, and die away.

908 words.

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Title: Of Belonging to Another
Author's LJ/DWJ: pellucid
Categories: female friendship, awesome women, Sam, Vala, Sarah Gardener, angst, character study
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list: SG-1 fic tag
Link to story: Of Belonging to Another

Why this should be read: This is the kind of story we never get on the show: the aftermath of events, picking up the pieces of a shattered life. Here is Sam, Vala, and Sarah Gardener, in a meeting of the Ex-Hosts Club. Honest, painful, poignant, and well worth reading.

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Title: Scotoma
Author's LJ/DWJ: rydra_wong
Categories: female friendship, awesome women, Sha're, Sam, Janet, drama, angst, AU, character study
Warnings: none
Author's Webpage/Fic list:
Link to story: Scotoma

Why this should be read: This stunning AU has Sha're rescued in S6, while Daniel is Ascended. Not only is Sha're powerfully and amazingly herself -- determined, intelligent, with her own cultural perspective -- but the friendship that springs up between her and Sam is wonderful, honest, and real. This is one of my favorite stories, and a real keeper.

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Title: My Heart Shall Pass Unto Yours
Author's LJ/DWJ: pagan_twylight
Categories: Drama/Angst
Warnings: Discussion of violence and allusions to sexual slavery
Author's Webpage/Fic list: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/683376/Pagan_Twylight
Link to story: My Heart Shall Pass Unto Yours
Why this should be read: Background for Malek and his host. A quote angsty, but also beautiful story of how Malek got his current host.

Title: Structural Integrity
Author's LJ/DWJ: etrangerici
Categories: episode related, theme: Jack friendship, angst, character study, team
Warnings: none
Author's Website: unknown
Link to story: Structural Integrity

Why This Must Be Read: Just when you think there can't be possibly be yet another good episode tag for Shades of Grey, you discover an absolute gem like this one, in which a heavy-hearted Jack thinks he's lost his team and their friendship... and discovers that he hasn't.

Stellar Jack POV and characterization lend an extra degree of impact to etrangerici's story. Teal'c is a stunning bulwark, both figuratively and literally. Sam uses her military knowledge to comprehend Jack's choices. And Daniel - watching Jack watch Daniel slowly talk his way into understanding will move you nearly to tears.

Lovely, lovely teamy goodness. This one is just plain fantastic.


He finally felt that he was solid on his foundations once more. Because they were his team. And they weren't letting go.

Title: The Undefended Territory
Author's LJ/DWJ: juliefortune
Categories: team, lost episode, drama, Jacob, angst, friendship
Warnings: references to canon minor character deaths, team whumping, language
Author's Webpage/Fic list: currently unavailable
Link to story: The Undefended Territory

Why this should be read: SG-1 gate to an ice planet and plunge, quite literally, into disaster. When what ought to be a routine rescue fails, Sam and Teal'c are forced to retreat to the Gate for help while Jack and Daniel struggle with injuries and hypothermia. With the SGC in lockdown and something deadly waking up beneath the ice, how can Sam and Teal'c get to Jack and Daniel in time?

Tok'ra cold-blooded pragmatism goes head-to-head with SG-1 loyalty and loses miserably; Jack and Daniel make the ultimate emotional sacrifice and give up their most cherished pasts for each other's lives; and the reader comes away from this amazing story with the mental shakes and a burning need to read everything else Julie has ever written.

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