Rec: SGA: Written By The Victors

[wordwitch]

On this day, as we cannot help but remember what was, for our generation, what December 7, 1941 was for our parents', it is proper and appropriate to consider the work Cesperanza has put into a so-called "fanfiction" for the television science-fiction show "Stargate: Atlantis."

Rather like Shakespeare's "fanfiction" of "Julius Caesar," this takes the bones and flesh of the original and does something incredible and searing with them. It makes a new story and forces us into the understanding that no history, however thorough, well-researched, and unbiased its writers consider it to be, can be anything but a pale shadow of the truth.

What we have been told about 9/11 is not the truth. What we have been shown about it is not the truth. What we have discovered about it is not the truth.

We can do no more than to accept that we will always believe lies about what happened on that day, even as we seek more and more knowledge. It will never be enough to be True; but it will be worth the seeking anyway.

Please read cesperanza's Written By The Victors if you have not already done so. Irretrievably straight guys: you can safely skip over the few non-safe scenes without it ruining the story for you.

Art has been made for the various volumes of this work by zulu.

An archive of related material has been collected.

As often happens with particularly deep works, an associated story has been written: Exile.

ETA: KBusse has written an analysis at http://kbusse.wordpress.com.

She refers to Lim's "Sheppard-focussed vid" at YouTube, which I have now seen, and which is incredible. Using only video taken from SG:A, she creates the entire WWbV story in images and text. It is to make one stop, silent, weep a bit, and then remember how to breathe.

And underneath the cut-tag I've attempted to embed a video made with consummate skill, again by zulu, who has actually created the story! From available shots!

And, in case this doesn't work, here is the link to the source.

Comments

[rhi]

I think you have a typo: Pearl Harbor was bombed on the 7th. And yes, what a fantastic story!

[wordwitch.livejournal.com]

You are quite right, and the change has been made. Now: why is it I keep remembering the 6th instead?

[rhi]

June 6 aka D-Day?

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

There was a doco on NZ tv earlier in the week. I forget the exact title, but its essential thrust was 'the man who predicted 9/11', and was about the security director of Morgan Stanley, who recognised the vulnerability of the WTC, and ensured that his company had appropriate emergency procedures. It led to a lengthy discussion with the kids about just the kinds of issues that Cesperanza's story explores, namely myth-making and the nature of history.

[resonant8.livejournal.com]

Just dropping by to wish you a very happy birthday!

[wordwitch.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've made 48!