I wonder how much of what we read has to do with (a) where we get our reading material and (b) what our friends read, both of which are linked. Personally, I'd love to read more SGA gen -- I love SGA gen. But I tend to get most of my links from rec lists, and most of the reccers I read lean toward NC-17 fic and away from gen fic. The same happens when people on my flist discuss fic they've read. I'm sure if I read more gen fic I'd have a better gen fic fan presence on my flist, but it's hard to get into that cycle.

As far as liking/disliking fics, there are some popular fics out there that don't really read as fic to me. The characters are just a bit too difficult to recognize as the written equivalent of their televised selves that it's easier (and more enjoyable) to read it more as original fic. For example, I had a really hard time getting into the Nantucket series. I think the authors are great and the stories appeal to my love of the everyday, mundane story, but those characters aren't John and Rodney to me. They're too sedate, too flat, completely missing that spark that really defines those characters. I didn't enjoy it at all as John/Rodney fic, but when I read it as fic with original characters who are have sort of John and Rodneyish personalities, it's much more enjoyable.

I think everyone has a set of traits that define their favorite characters. When those traits are contradicted or missing, it ruins that particular fic for that particular person, regardless of the quality of the work. I've never actually discussed that with anyone though, so it's just a pet theory, really.

Great post. Looking forward to reading more replies.