I think it gets trickier to assume your audience will be intimately familiar with two or more canons smushed together,and I think a little less inference and little more explicit footwork is needed.

I don't read crossovers if I don't know both canons well, though. I don't actually read much crossover anyway, but I can't imagine being interested enough in a fic that crosses with a show I don't know and love to read it. YcrossoverMV, of course.

I think it's also pretty easy to shortcut through characterizations and some basic facts without realizing you're doing it, though. It's hard enough writing original fiction to make sure everyone knows what you mean, but you're starting with a familiar base, you're probably going to assume most readers know what you do, and there's no need to explain it.

Thanks, ita!

I'm about due for my annual Dark Angel rewatch, I think. And way overdue for my annual Good Omens re-read.

I'm willing to read fusions where I don't knowKNOW the extra canon, because I'm hoping they'll do enough legwork, but not crossovers, because that's usually entire major characters. There have been a few where they say you don't need to know, but I feel I end up with a poorly-painted OC, and DNW.

I started a Star Wars fusion (author called it a crossover--people, please be accurate) the other day that's cracking my ass up. I haven't watched the original movies in forever, so I can't say if its canon is being done justice, but the character overlay so far is pretty hysterical. I can't wait to find out who's Chewbacca.

eta:

I'm about due for my annual Dark Angel rewatch

I need to check if SiTV still shows it. It might be time to cherrypick the JA episodes again.

I was a Good Omens fan before SPN was a twinkle in Kripke's eye, so reading crossovers with it isn't a problem for me from a canon knowledge standpoint. Well, aside from the SPN S5 eps. I haven't watched yet, coming back the way I did this spring.

There is a difference in tone between the two sources, though. Even though both [spoilers for Good Omens]: deal with angels and demons, apocalypses, witches, the four horsemen, and humans caught up in it all. It's not a huge stretch, plot-wise.

So the tonal issues can be a bit jarring, depending which you're going into the crossover fic expecting.

Supernatural Soundtrack album! All the scores, not the rock.

The track titles are HILARIOUS.

Oh, god, I laughed out loud at my desk again. The developer totally knows I'm surfing the web.

And Sam is giving such the sex look on that album cover. Naughty boy.

Dean's Dirty Organ?! I literally spit iced tea.

Yeah. I may need to buy it for the titles.

Me too. I pretty much don't care what it sounds like. I just want those to pop up on my iPod.

Yes, fanservice works on me. What of it?

Oh, I'm so buying it. I have no idea if I'll ever listen to it (who am I kidding -- I'll get nostalgic one day and listen and weep, I'm sure), but I am buying it.