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What Might Have Been
This is an alternate universe series in that Rodney McKay never went to Atlantis, the mission failed within it’s first two years and John Sheppard finds himself back on Earth as the second in command of Stargate Command under the leadership of Major General Jack O’Neill. Characters from the Atlantis series and the original SG1 series will figure prominently in all of the novellas in this series. McShep and many other pairings throughout.
629 pages, ebook
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 30, 2017
I read this story at least a couple times a year and its totally worth it every time. I love how the author has just nailed the characters so perfectly and even the OCs fit in amazingly well. If you're a fan of Stargate and/or this pairing, this should be a must read for you.
June 14, 2024
I don’t know man there‘s something wrong with me. I DNF all of Keira‘s fanfics. That’s just pure OOC stuff for me. Why do so many people like it?? Have they watched the show?! I‘m clearly in the minority here but I genuinely cannot comprehend Keira‘s popularity..
November 17, 2019
Fanfiction not for everyone.
November 10, 2024
At first, I thought this series would probably end up with 3 GR stars from me, but it just kept getting better. The only reason I might have rounded down is for the never-written next phase, which didn't seem fair.
The sense of family gets extended beyond McShep, to all the Sheppards (canon and original), to their whole SG + security crew et al, and there are eventually a number of secondary pairings, both M/M and het, such as this Jack and Sam being married from the start. (Even Jennifer Keller, another survivor of the defeat of this Atlantis, is likable this time, uncommon for Ms. Marcos.)
** Oh, ETA, I was surprised to see Teyla appear here in AU form, in a minor (barely more than mentions) role as a Tau'ri human friend/employee of McKay's. Ronon came back to Earth with John, along with the survivors of the doomed expedition.
There are fun elements, like banter (of course), and McKay's huge, "probably not an alien" Maine Coon cat, and a first-date puddle jumper visit to Mars.
However, there's a lot of meaty, emotional, and/or thought-provoking content, too. This includes past child abuse, current sexual assault/ attempted rape, suicidal thoughts (in one part ), the weight of their own past deadly deeds, and unapologetic (though sometimes publically concealed), ethically-gray protective ruthlessness, which only increases with an important young OC addition to the cast in story 7 of 10, the reason I decided to include the "kidfic" shelf (though you can read the preceding pieces even if you avoid any works with child-protagonists): .
This Sheppard and McKay become famous, used by the U.S. military as the "poster boys" for the repeal of DADT due to a heroic and romantic act being televised, then it only increases after the Stargate program is declassified, meaning they must deal with prying reporters and bigoted public opinion.
In addition, John's "supergene" and McKay's genius mean they are both/all always targets for sanctioned and unsanctioned government and Trust, etc., schemes, as well.
In short, there's a lot to justify the security measures they must take, but the Sheppard wealth and the even greater amount McKay's various projects have earned him, give them options and clout.
Some of the stories have more canon-typical action and suspense (including some twists on and callbacks to canon), while others are mainly on a more personal scale, plus there are several bonus interludes, with helpful specification re. where they fit in the chronology. This whole arc takes place entirely in our own galaxy, mainly on Earth, ending at the point where they're almost ready to try recovering Atlantis.
Re. the "crossover" shelving, which I didn't even include after my first read, it's quite minor: several characters from Numb3rs each make a brief appearance and/or mention or two.
(I don't know why WMHB was even posted as a single entry on Goodreads, when most of the pieces are as worthy of individual listing as many other works that are here, but it means librarians are unlikely to ever remove it, so 👍.)
Unfortunately, only one "episode" of the projected sequel series, Ring of Fire, was completed and posted, and that was back in 2011. I'm about to read it, but I doubt it will go very far re. Atlantis and the rest of what's left in Pegasus, much less the final, inevitable confrontation with the Wraith. ETA: Yep, that's no more than expected. Ah, well.
ETA (11/'24): I just noticed another reader's fic-ID question on the series page referencing a plot development not reached/revealed by the endpoint available on keiramarcos.com, despite the author's brief reply that it is part of Ring of Fire, so I fear that story may have been only temporarily available, posted somewhere like Rough Trade (where *rough* drafts get purged at set intervals).
Series main page, with links and blurbs for all episodes and interludes, plus casting, etc. :
keiramarcos.com/fan-fiction/stargate-...
*****
Re. my 2/2022 series reread, I really didn't intend to do more than revisit a few favorite scenes or maybe stories, but I should have known myself better. Smh.
The sense of family gets extended beyond McShep, to all the Sheppards (canon and original), to their whole SG + security crew et al, and there are eventually a number of secondary pairings, both M/M and het, such as this Jack and Sam being married from the start. (Even Jennifer Keller, another survivor of the defeat of this Atlantis, is likable this time, uncommon for Ms. Marcos.)
** Oh, ETA, I was surprised to see Teyla appear here in AU form, in a minor (barely more than mentions) role as a Tau'ri human friend/employee of McKay's. Ronon came back to Earth with John, along with the survivors of the doomed expedition.
There are fun elements, like banter (of course), and McKay's huge, "probably not an alien" Maine Coon cat, and a first-date puddle jumper visit to Mars.
However, there's a lot of meaty, emotional, and/or thought-provoking content, too. This includes past child abuse, current sexual assault/ attempted rape, suicidal thoughts (in one part ), the weight of their own past deadly deeds, and unapologetic (though sometimes publically concealed), ethically-gray protective ruthlessness, which only increases with an important young OC addition to the cast in story 7 of 10, the reason I decided to include the "kidfic" shelf (though you can read the preceding pieces even if you avoid any works with child-protagonists): .
This Sheppard and McKay become famous, used by the U.S. military as the "poster boys" for the repeal of DADT due to a heroic and romantic act being televised, then it only increases after the Stargate program is declassified, meaning they must deal with prying reporters and bigoted public opinion.
In addition, John's "supergene" and McKay's genius mean they are both/all always targets for sanctioned and unsanctioned government and Trust, etc., schemes, as well.
In short, there's a lot to justify the security measures they must take, but the Sheppard wealth and the even greater amount McKay's various projects have earned him, give them options and clout.
Some of the stories have more canon-typical action and suspense (including some twists on and callbacks to canon), while others are mainly on a more personal scale, plus there are several bonus interludes, with helpful specification re. where they fit in the chronology. This whole arc takes place entirely in our own galaxy, mainly on Earth, ending at the point where they're almost ready to try recovering Atlantis.
Re. the "crossover" shelving, which I didn't even include after my first read, it's quite minor: several characters from Numb3rs each make a brief appearance and/or mention or two.
(I don't know why WMHB was even posted as a single entry on Goodreads, when most of the pieces are as worthy of individual listing as many other works that are here, but it means librarians are unlikely to ever remove it, so 👍.)
Unfortunately, only one "episode" of the projected sequel series, Ring of Fire, was completed and posted, and that was back in 2011. I'm about to read it, but I doubt it will go very far re. Atlantis and the rest of what's left in Pegasus, much less the final, inevitable confrontation with the Wraith. ETA: Yep, that's no more than expected. Ah, well.
ETA (11/'24): I just noticed another reader's fic-ID question on the series page referencing a plot development not reached/revealed by the endpoint available on keiramarcos.com, despite the author's brief reply that it is part of Ring of Fire, so I fear that story may have been only temporarily available, posted somewhere like Rough Trade (where *rough* drafts get purged at set intervals).
Series main page, with links and blurbs for all episodes and interludes, plus casting, etc. :
keiramarcos.com/fan-fiction/stargate-...
*****
Re. my 2/2022 series reread, I really didn't intend to do more than revisit a few favorite scenes or maybe stories, but I should have known myself better. Smh.
August 1, 2024
I love, and when I say love, I mean L.O.V.E love. Keira Marcos always has a chokehold on me. This is one of many series that I have re-read many times. If I could own an actually paperback copy of this book, I would. Not only is the writing Steller but way she is able to tell a story that leaves you wanting more and completely satisfied. The way she has written John Shephard character or any of the characters is so refreshing. I know this is from a tv series but it's the changes and storyline that keeps me coming back for more. Not only that John family and a son added into the mix is so good. Small details are never missed.
Any reading slump or bad day I might be having immediately turn to Keira and one of her many series.
Any reading slump or bad day I might be having immediately turn to Keira and one of her many series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews