Title: City on the Edge of Forever, the pilot.
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis.
Pairing: Gen.
Categories: AU, Adventure.
Length: Medium.
Warnings: None.

Author on LJ: synecdochic
Author Website: venus in furs

Author's Summary:
"SGA the way it might have been if they hadn't managed to accidentally turn on the Stupid Generator."

Review:
An AU of "Rising" where a much better prepared Atlantis expedition sets out.

No matter how much I love a show, there are many moments were I do wonder if the "Stupid Generator" has indeed been turned on. Surely, I ask, there can be a way to create a compelling plot and interesting conflicts without having the main characters you're supposed to admire act like complete idiots?

synecdochic shows that it is indeed possible. In "City on the Edge of Forever" she details how the preparations for the Atlantis expedition should have happened considering you're supposed to be dealing with incredible competent people who are aware that this might end up being a one-way trip to another galaxy. A list of well thought out supplies, the development of plans for every contingency and a number of trial runs before crossing to the Pegasus galaxy may not seem like much, but it changes the tone of the entire expedition from the get go.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this fic is that it avoids beautifully the pitfall of having ultra!smart/ultra!powerful versions of the characters acting like demi-gods. There are no extraordinary leaps of logic or characters with all the right answers and the power to back them up. Rather, you have a group of people who are very much aware of the situation they are getting into, are prepared for the worst case scenario as well as the best and are willing to work hard to have the best possible change to survive and thrive.

City on the Edge of Forever, the pilot.