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Novel-Length McKay Alt-Universe Fan Fiction--Futura Memoratia

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    Novel-Length McKay Alt-Universe Fan Fiction--Futura Memoratia

    Hello!

    Futura Memoratia

    Above^ is a link to my blog where I have, for your perusal, a FREE download in .epub format of my novel-length fan fiction called Futura Memoratia. You will also find there information on how to download it, if you need help, as well as a link to the complete fic on fanfiction.net, if you'd rather read it that way.

    Here's the teaser:
    Dr. Emily Freedman, a talented linguist/archeologist in the Stargate program, is driven to the Pegasus galaxy under the influence of a powerful, but mysterious, ancient artifact. Will she find the answers she seeks in Atlantis? See Season 3 through a new set of eyes in this alternate universe, romantic, novel-length fan fic.

    If you click on the link, you will find lots of praise for the fic. I haven't had a bad review yet. : )

    A friend suggested I post about it here, that people might want to chat about it. I thought that sounded like fun! So, here I am. Thoughts? Questions? I'm all ears.
    Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

    #2
    I am about 60% through it and recommend it so far. I will post more about my thoughts on it this weekend.

    Comment


      #3
      I am now 80% done and am even more impressed.

      I chose to read your book because of two reasons: 1) the Latin chapter titles and philosophical preface signaled the story would probably be well thought out and organized, and 2) I like mysterious Ancient artifacts and insights. So far, the book delivered both and more. Lest anyone think this book is too intellectual, though, there is also plenty of humor, romance, heart-felt memories, and excitement.

      The idea of introducing a linguist/archeologist into the mission is a well-chosen one for plot advancement, Ancient explanations, and fitting in with personality traits already established on the show. In “The Brotherhood,” Rodney had a bit of a natural crush on the archeologist woman there and was taking the ZPM tracking work more seriously than the rest of his team. This pairing works well for him.

      I was delighted to see different types of remembering going on, besides just the mystery of the future visions shown by the device early on in the plot, and the theme of reciprocal determinism exploration for personality trait development and impact on timelines of the lives of other people. It is a web of interconnectedness.

      The mechanics are excellent and what really stands out about the way you structured your plot is I can “see” the structure of it from an aerial view and form pictures of it in my mind. The chunks of different events advance the plot along like rungs of a ladder, onward and upward. The way Emily’s presence causes a divergence in the timeline is like a sideways V (<): things start to proceed similarly for Rodney as he encounters some of the things he did in the episodes; but, those experience start to be altered by degrees, culminating in radically different outcomes. All of your events also tie back to one another, woven like a unified tapestry. Emily is no mere spectator.

      Comment


        #4
        Your thoughts are just so generous and lovely--you have me a bit choked up. Thank you so much for being so kind.

        This piece was really a labor of love. I came to Stargate late, after it had been cancelled. I don't know how it escaped my notice the first time around because I'm a huge fan of nearly every science fiction franchise out there. I watched it originally on netflix, then bought blue-rays of SGA because I just loved it so. I didn't want that world to end, I guess.

        I worked on this tirelessly for months, through medical issues (serious pain) that I had to have surgery for--it really helped me stay focused on a goal and forget about the pain my body was wracked with.

        The book, as it stands now, is about 167K words. If it were print, that would be a VERY long book. (Most paperbacks are 80-120K), but my very first draft was something like 208K (that's in the realm of the length of Moby Dick, LOL--makes me feel very sheepish). I had no idea, then. I was just having fun.

        Learning how to trim was really hard, both at a sentence/word level and a chapter level. I really had to distill it down to the most important aspects. Whole chapters and a certain element of Emily's background had to be cut, just for length and readability. I had 4 beta readers go through it--I demanded they be mean to me. Most weren't. They were very helpful, though.

        I really think this fic was a crucible for my emerging writing style. I personally believe fan fiction is a great way to learn to write. And, I have, in fact, seen other people--published authors and writing coaches--making that same comment. There are a LOT of talented writers in the fandom, especially the SGA fandom.

        I'm well aware (now) that Original Characters are frowned upon. Had I to do it differently, I couldn't change that though, because the story I really wanted to tell was all about the Carcaerum device. That was my original premise and when I also conceived of the Dartaran device, well, it snowballed in my mind and Emily had to be born. I didn't feel like I could pluck another character out of the mix to tell this story, unless they were from the far background, and then they might as well be original, at that point.

        I wonder if you have a favorite scene or chapter? I have my own. Believe it or not, one of the last chapters written was not the epilogue. There seemed to be something important missing in the beginning so I wrote the scenes with the Somatic Fertility device. That was just THE MOST FUN to write. To me, well, I know it sounds narcissistic, but I can't help it. I laugh out loud when I re-read that section.

        I'm working on an original novel now. I've got about 55,000 words written and it's going quite well. I learned so many lessons from FM that I'm actually on track for word counts at this point. (Thank goodness!)

        Thanks again!
        Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

        Comment


          #5
          You are welcome; it is well-earned. I certainly hope your pain is behind you now, but you made something wonderful with your time.

          It's understandable publishers would want to stay clear of OCs as main characters because the overall audience expects the core Lantean team. But, every episode and every published book has the team going somewhere new and meeting new people, with new minor OC characters in books. Otherwise, there would be nothing new to discover. "Hunt and Run" has the V'rdai. "Legacy" has Eva and Queen Death. "Entanglement" has Trishen.

          I also agree taking a minor SGA character like Allina in "The Brotherhood" and expounding on her would be like making your own OC at that point, because not much is known about her. Plus, these characters would not suit the needs of the proper character background for Emily.

          One of my favorite SGA fanfic novels is "Honor" by Traveler64. It is pretty much all OCs, but one roller coaster of a thrilling read and a spectacular ending that left me breathless. I think that author also went on to write an original novel afterwards.

          I'm still reading, but my favorite scene so far is when Emily and Rodney figure out just what the fertility device does. XD I also liked Rodney being teased about the insect mound and Emily describing Rodney using the scientific method.

          What sort of novel are you working on now? Is it sci-fi?

          Comment


            #6
            Yes, the pain is done. Thank goodness! But pain can teach. It helped me find a single-minded focus that I'm trying to re-establish now that it's gone. With two small children tugging at me all day, finding focus despite the chaos is a singularly interesting experience.

            I agree with your points on OC's. Very valid and thoughtful. However, no publisher (Fandemonium is the only authorized publisher) would touch this piece and I knew that from the beginning. Fandemonium says they will not publish AU novels. That's their choice. I didn't try to contact them, instead preferring to give this away as a gift, hopefully to generate interest in my future work. So far it's working. I've gotten some really nice feedback from this, that I will cherish forever. It spurs me on! Harder. . .faster. . .stronger. . . .

            I will definitely look up the novel you mentioned. Sounds intriguing!

            Mm. The scientific method. Yes. o.O I love that scene too.

            My current book IS scifi. Working title is Fluency. My protagonist, Dr. Jane Holloway, is also a linguist (not an archeologist like Emily) and she is entirely a different character. She's confident, assured. She grew up the child of tour guide parents who dragged her all over the globe to remote places until disaster struck, scarring her and putting her at permanent odds with her natural hedonistic tendencies.

            She's been recruited by NASA because of her background and a famous stint she pulled in the Amazon, where she deciphered a rare native language and then survived against all odds with malaria, hiking through the jungle with her half-dead companions, ultimately pulling them to safety. (She is loosely based on a real-life linguist who actually did this with his family including small children.) NASA thinks this background makes her uniquely qualified for this mission.

            Why would NASA want a linguist? They've been watching an alien craft that is drifting in the major asteroid belt (just beyond Mars) for 60+ years. It never moves under it's own power and it never receives re-supply. At the same time that the technology finally evolves to make going there possible, astronomers discover that an asteroid in an irregular orbit is going to collide with the ship within 5 years, leaving only two launch windows to go there. Jane is on that first mission. NASA assumes there are people aboard, not quite like us, but similar enough to be recognizable--like the ones that were removed from the wreckage of a craft found in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. They need a linguist to be an emissary.

            Jane is one of very few linguists that has experience with a monolingual field situation--meaning, learning a new language where there is no language in common. And her history shows that she can stand up to hardship. Her character is stubborn, determined. She's perfect.

            But when they get there, dock with this ship, 6 astronauts, including Jane, things are not what they seem. o.O

            And there is a subplot of romance, of course. I wouldn't want it any other way. Dr. Alan Bergan is an aeronautics engineer that worked for JPL/NASA and is the foremost expert on alien tech, having made major breakthroughs on the remains of the Roswell craft that no one else could crack. He's a hard-nosed smart ass. Arrogant and condescending. He's also a terrible flirt. He has quite a history as a ladies man. Picking up girls in college bars. Never had a serious relationship. As a twist, I thought it would be interesting for him to be sickeningly in love with Jane, but afraid to admit it. (Since in most stories it's the girl who does the pining, right?)

            Other crew members include:
            Dr. Ajaya Varma, crew doc, trained astronaut, once a Marine;
            Matt Walsh, the Commander, computer specialist and former test pilot, Air Force;
            Tom Compton, a long time astronaut with tons of experience, also a mechanical engineer and the pilot, Air force;
            Ron Peterson, electronics specialist and experienced astronaut, also with military background.

            This is the first of a series involving Jane Holloway that I envision being Galactic in scope. She will get to see far more than just our corner of the solar system, eventually. I plan for her to change and grow, in a tumultuous relationship with Alan Bergen, stepwise, book by book, until she is a hardened, wise hero of a Universe at war.

            How does that sound? I haven't even started on the plot. . . .

            I do have an excerpt from the book on my blog (link to my blog in my sig), if you're curious. : )

            In fact, I should get back to that now . . . LOL!

            Jen
            Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

            Comment


              #7
              I finished reading. Yayyy! I laughed at the IOA destroying the device, yet scolding Emily for not telling them all about it, yet wanting all the insights the device showed her. XD The Datarans sound like an interesting race in and of themselves.

              Your novel preview sounds intriguing too. LOL, yes, of course, there has to be an elusive romance (or even love triangle) in just about every scifi show, doesn't there?

              Comment


                #8
                Yes, well I've always been a sucker for Romance and romantic fiction. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights--all faves of mine. But I also love science fiction. Mashing the two genres seems like a prudent thing to do, when you find yourself caught between two worlds.

                If you like romantic sci fi, it is actually an emerging genre. I really like Anne Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series starting with the novel Grimspace. That is mainstream published--a series of 6 books, all out now. Really good. And Heidi Ruby Miller has a book called Ambassadora and a prequel for that book called Greenshift that are really good as well--these are indie and only available electronically. There are many others, but those are my faves so far. Some in this genre are little more than bodice rippers SET in space and that's not what I'm about at all.

                Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
                Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

                Comment


                  #9
                  I like romance too and also works which promote hope. That reminds me, I like the advice Daniel gives to Emily as well. It's good for everybody, not just for people dealing with unusual space artifacts.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Indeed.
                    Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Just started reading your novel. Usually I don't read fic with original characters at the forefront, especially if they happen to be love interests for one of the main cast. It's just not to my taste as I prefer to see more exploration of the relationships that I saw on screen. But something in your description drew me in. Plus, I can never resist a good McKay-centric story (not a lot of people do him justice in fanfic, as far as I'm concerned. He's often turned into a caricature with no complexity whatsoever.) And I'm very much enjoying yours! I'm only on chapter 4 right now, but I can already tell that you have a good grasp on the characters. Your Rodney is very true to his canon self - arrogant, rude, self-centered, but also fiercely intelligent (and strangely enough, not a lot of fanfic!Rodneys are easily recognized as geniuses, despite the fact that his smarts is one of his most obvious characteristics. So I always value a fic that does portray him as a very intelligent man). Emily is likeable and interesting, and I love seeing Atlantis through her eyes. I also like that there's a lot of focus (so far at least) on alien technology and artifacts - that's the sci-fi nerd in me speaking.: As much as I love a relationship-foused fic, I always prefer a little plot to go along with it too. And your fic seems to be delivering it all! Your writing style is also quite good. While I'm no writer myself, and my command of English leaves much to be desired, I'm capable of appreciating truly good writing when I see it. S yeah, I can tell I'm going to enjoy the ride!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        OMGosh! Thanks so much for your considered analysis of my work. And I'm so glad you feel I delivered on McKay--he was devilishly fun to write! I, too, have always been enamored of the Ancient tech--stay tuned--there's lots more where that came from!
                        Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Picked this back up after real life got in the way for a while. Have to say it must be good because it was 3am when I put it down and went to bed. Good attention to detail and tie ins with the series.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Thank you! I'm so gratified to hear that you're enjoying it!
                            Free Stargate ebook. Futura Memoratia. Propelled by mysterious device--a talented linguist travels to Atlantis seeking answers #McKay #alternate universe #romance http://bit.ly/PPFU6c

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I thought of something else I appreciated about this fanfic: the maturity of the way McKay's preexisting and possible relationships were handled. It was your job as an author to show us why your character has her own merits and could be compatible with Rodney and you did it splendidly, without bashing other women and relatives in his life or writing them out in an unrealistic, hateful, or non-canon way.
                              Spoiler:

                              With Katie, Emily gets drunk and says things she shouldn't have. It doesn't endear her to Rodney and she learned from this mistake, making her not very MarySue-ish.

                              With Jennifer, Emily understands Jennifer has her own merits as a medical doctor and could have potentially made Rodney happy in another AU, but Emily doesn't feel the need to get of of Jennifer or antagonize her.

                              With Rodney's sister's family, Emily puts forth effort to get to know them all and to be their friend.


                              Are you still working on your original novel?

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