Fic Rec!

[em_kellesvig]

Just finished reading esteefee's Redemption series on AO3. If you haven't read it, it's wonderful!

It's a two part series/crossover/fusion with SGA, SG1, and the Sentinel that starts with John Sheppard as a sentinel on the run and Rodney McKay as a target for mayhem.

To quote the author's summary:

In a 'verse where sentinels and guides are known, sentinels are second-class citizens, and DADT doesn't exist, astrophysicist Rodney McKay works at the SGC. Major John Sheppard, secretly a sentinel, is M.I.A., presumed K.I.A. in Afghanistan. Their paths cross in the unlikeliest of places: in a café in Colorado Springs, when agents of the Trust attempt to kidnap Dr. McKay.

Life is about to get really complicated for both of them.

Great action/adventure, twisty plot, interesting take on the sentinel/guide relationship, romance, angst, humor, Jack O'Neill (in character), villains that make sense, and hot, steamy John/Rodney...stuff.

Set aside some time for this one as it clocks in at ~36k, but it's a fast, exciting read so it doesn't feel that long. Also, check out the covers! One is by crysothemis! Both are gorgeous.

Go! Read! Good fun, great writing!

Comments

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

Definitely at the top of my to-read list. However, I know nothing of the sentinel/guide relationship, and I've always shied away from those fics because of that. Can you nutshell it for me? I know there was a Jim and a Blair, and was one of them psychic? Or something?

[em_kellesvig]

Sure! Sentinels have very heightened senses, so much so that they can become overwhelmed by sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch, etc. to the point they "zone out" and become unresponsive. Guides help to "ground" their sentinels so they can use those heightened senses to good effect instead of being rendered helpless.

There's more to it than that, and different writers have different interpretations and extrapolations of the sentinel/guide relationship, history, lore, etc. but that's what you need to know going in. The writer will fill you in on the rest -- they always do.

Enjoy the read! :)

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

Definitely second that rec! What a fun fic!

[em_kellesvig]

It so was! I'm saving it for my Kindle. :)

[goddess47]

Like mischief said, you don't need to know more about Sentinals and Guides ... the 'meta' is that a Sentinal has hyper senses... sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing... far exceeding the capacity of a 'mundane'... the issue that the Sentinal can focus on one sense to the point that it overwhelms them and they 'zone' out... the purpose of a 'guide' is to work with the Sentinal and serve as a 'ground' and a safety valve for the Sentinal...

Anything beyond that is pretty much up to the author...

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

Thanks - now I really can't wait to read it! \o/

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

That really does sound like an intriguing concept. Makes me want to see if I can find some old episodes, now, and give it a watch. And, of course, read Esteevee's fic. :O)

[goddess47]

Kiera Marcos has a long, plotty Sentinals of Atlantis piece (as well as a Jim/Blair Sentinal piece) that's kinda yummy... once you've read Esteevee's fic, I can recommend hers, too...

All I know about Sentinals, I know from reading fan fic... never saw the show on TV... ;-( But at this point, I think that's ok...

I also have a bunny that's nibbling around my toes because, in fandom, generally John is the Sentinal and Rodney is the Guide.... what if those roles were reversed? How different would they be? ::gently shoos away the bunny::

[wanted-a-pony.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I just finished those last night! Weren't they fun?? :-DD

[em_kellesvig]

Yis! I do love a good, long plotty fusion. With some sexy on the side. *grin*

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

*points to icon*

*whistles innocently*

[popkin16]

I know of three fics where Rodney is the Sentinel and John is the guide :P I generally like it the other way around, but if you feel the need to write guide!John and Sentinel!Rodney, then *sends loads and loads of encouragement your way*

[ladysorka]

Despite what everyone will tell you, Guides are, er, actually fanon. So.

Edit: Well, the way they're normally depicted in crossover fic, anyway. Actually, the whole Sentinel/Guide thing is fanon. (Arguably, canonically Blair was Jim's shaman. I. Okay, never mind.) This is just a long way to say that it really doesn't matter, Sentinel/Guide the way it's used in fic is an entirely fandom invented thing that is completely separate from The Sentinel the tv show, and you don't need to know jack about The Sentinel to read Sentinel/Guide fic.