What? She killed 'em with mathematics. What else could it have been?

Jayne ,'Objects In Space'


Fan Fiction II: Great story! Where's the sequel?

This thread is for fanfic recs, links, and discussion, but not for actual posting of fanfic.


Anne W. - Jun 05, 2011 8:16:49 am PDT #7037 of 10434
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

I already pointed this out on my LJ, but this might be of interest to some out there:

Ladies Big Bang - it's a multi-fandom BB that is open not just to fic and 2D art but to meta, recs, 3D art, crafts, etc.

There's some stuff in the archives there that looks interesting.


Consuela - Jun 10, 2011 11:31:29 am PDT #7038 of 10434
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

So last night I started reading that semi-famous fan novel Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness (which is partly famous because the writer has been deeply involved in some of the most famous fandom wanks ever to be wanked). I wanted to read it because it tells the story of what happened at Hogwarts in that last year while Harry et al. were on the run.

But really what it is, is the story of how Neville is Better Than Harry, No Really, and Hotter and Tougher too. Neville does pushups! Neville gets a girlfriend who's got a better body than Ginny! Neville gives orders!

It's a very fannish story, but it comes from a perspective off-kilter from my own fannish experiences. For one thing, everyone's straight. And Snape is Entirely Evil--there's no indication here of his promise to protect the students. And the writer manipulates the canon just enough to make it seem as though Neville and Ginny were able to figure out not only what Harry was looking for, but when to expect him to return to Hogwarts.

At the risk of sounding gender-essentialist, it feels like a very fanboy kind of novel.

Can't say great things about the prose or pacing, although it's written competently enough. And there is a nice attempt to include magic from sources other than England, thus giving Padma and Seamus things to do (although very stereotypical things).

I was going to say I wonder why it's so popular, but I think I've answered my own question: it's very fannish, with a lot of emphasis on Neville's emotional state, and Neville is pretty much a classic canonical Marty Stu for this writer.


Amy - Jun 10, 2011 11:38:05 am PDT #7039 of 10434
Because books.

How are you defining "fannish" there, Consuela? Just out of curiosity.


Consuela - Jun 10, 2011 11:48:01 am PDT #7040 of 10434
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

For the purposes of this discussion, I would define it as: self-indulgent. Too much emo, too many speeches about fighting the good fight, not enough complexity or ambiguity.

It's not a porny story, but it's clearly written to mash some fannish buttons.

It's sort of "The Zeppo" times a thousand, in which Xander ends up a better Slayer than Buffy is.


Amy - Jun 10, 2011 11:49:58 am PDT #7041 of 10434
Because books.

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks!


chrismg - Jun 21, 2011 8:47:02 pm PDT #7042 of 10434
"...and then Legolas and the Hulk destroy the entire Greek army." - Penny Arcade

Crossover

Specifically, Barbara Gordon/Miss Parker(Pretender). In French.


§ ita § - Jun 25, 2011 6:34:25 pm PDT #7043 of 10434
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

When a fic starts with "With a flutter of silent noise" it's very considerate because you know there's no point reading much further.


Cass - Jun 25, 2011 8:44:34 pm PDT #7044 of 10434
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.

When a fic starts with "With a flutter of silent noise" it's very considerate because you know there's no point reading much further.

Sadly, this is inappropriate feedback to the author. But it's completely true.

Or the author needs to hit the mute button. Sometimes I think there should be noise, but it's silent and it's because of the mute button. ::nods::


sumi - Jun 26, 2011 4:23:24 am PDT #7045 of 10434
Art Crawl!!!

That's right.

Damn, that silent noise - it gets you everytime with its stealthiness.


Anne W. - Jun 26, 2011 4:33:57 am PDT #7046 of 10434
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

What's sad is that the author was probably so proud of how evocative that line was.

A beta who is not afraid to call one out on such things is a godsend.