So...it turns out I don't hate fanfic

[sqbr]

Though the change from "I don't like it, with these exceptions" to "I like some of it but have very high standards" isn't a huge paradigm shift.

Warning: Sleepy and grumpy, will almost certainly revise this after I've had time to realise which bits of it are stoopid. Sometimes you just have to let your ideas go out into the world knowing they'll almost certainly come back battered and changed.

That which made me abandon my "Fanfic I like are outliers" theory is these recs, since I've enjoyed pretty much all the ones that looked interesting enough to read. Found a remarkably spot-on, tonewise¹, Gregor/Miles story which (while I love Kat) is imho a more interesting match than canon, especially in terms of repercussions, though the story lacks LMB's wonderful inventiveness for characters and deep explorations of the Nature of Being. And none of the characters are tortured!

Anyway, I've realised the reason I thought I didn't like fanfic (and slash in particular) is rather like the reason I sometimes feel I don't like fantasy or tv sf, ie
(1) Many of the people I know who rec it like different things to me
(2) I have Very High Standards, especially in terms of character continuity and originality of ideas

Specifically, while I have no problem with reading about gay relationships (in fact they make an interesting change to the norm), I don't like stories which fetishise them. Also, I don't particularly like reading explicit sex or violence, though will put up with it if it aids the plot. What I am after is interesting and new ideas, or a dissection of the original text. Thus "Porn starring two characters whose main appeal is that they're played by hot guys", not so much.

And unless a story is making a metatexual (is that the word) commentary by highlighting things the author didn't do, I don't like it when things happen that wouldn't in canon (things which could plausibly have happened if events had transpired differently are ok). Which, I only just realised, makes me somewhat resistant to slash in contexts where I feel the author is too conservative/boring to have gay/bi characters (hello JKR), but perfectly happy with authors like LMB or JMS who are demonstrably cool with it. Also I prefer book based stuff since novelisations of tv/movies always sound off to me even when they're canon.

Something I find annoying (not that it's anyone's fault) is that most everyone I encounter who likes the kind of stuff I do seems to be into fanfic largely for the squee, so it's lost in a sea of pretty boy smut. *sighs* Luckily I don't mind squee-ish vids, since it's much harder for them to feel OOC.

Anyway, people, feel free to now shower me with intelligent, interesting fanfic which is not about the squee. Or say why you agree or disagree. Assuming you didn't get bored of me rambling about myself several paragraphs up :) And I'm so totally not in a replying to comments space right now, hopefully will be soon.

1) Favourite bit:

The Escobarans had a long history of extremely foresighted environmental controls, which had left their planet, centuries after settlement, a near paradise of clean air and sweeping, undisturbed forest. Even here, in the heart of the capital city, trees grew evenly spaced along the pavements, and there was a crisp, green flavor to the air. Miles suppressed a sneeze and inwardly groaned.

Comments

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

AGH. SOPHIE.

[alias_sqbr]

I know, I know. I remember when I was a moralising christian who disapproved of rock music, and science fiction, and tv shows that had more than one writer. Where did that little girl go? Where did she go?

[mothwentbad.livejournal.com]

That "s" in "moralising" is so Perthy!

I once called moralization "the cacophonous squawking of a bird who rewards those who feed it with its silence." Incidentally, I was a moralizing Christian boy once. Ugh.

[alias_sqbr]

I think all teenagers are obnoxious, we just choose different vectors by which to transport our obnoxiousness to the world. At least I wasn't a shallow fashion victim, I say.

And what do you mean Perthy, there's like a hundred million(*) people who spell english correctly not just the 2 million of us in Perth. Not our fault you americans are too lasy to spell proper :P

(*)I say estimating wildly

[volandum.livejournal.com]

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Gentle baby dinosaur sex cum falling like sweet rain on Harry's upraised face, menacing penile forests of wizardry."

How does that make you resistant to slash in contexts where you feel the author would avoid it?

[alias_sqbr]

See, I was already resistant, but it certainly doesn't help :P

[volandum.livejournal.com]

No, no, no. The two paragraphs weren't linked.

And unless a story is making a metatexual (is that the word) commentary by highlighting things the author didn't do, I don't like it when things happen that wouldn't in canon (things which could plausibly have happened if events had transpired differently are ok). Which, I only just realised, makes me somewhat resistant to slash in contexts where I feel the author is too conservative/boring to have gay/bi characters (hello JKR), but perfectly happy with authors like LMB or JMS who are demonstrably cool with it.

I'd like a "How." on the "... makes me somewhat resistant to slash..."

[alias_sqbr]

You need to watch it with the non sequiters, young man, they're very confusing. Anyway.

If I feel that a character is definitely 100% straight in the authors head then I will be less likely to believe them being in a gay relationship (and vice versa, hypothetically speaking) In "A deeper season", linked above, since Lois McMaster Bujold has a number of characters turn out to be gay/bi(*) that aspect didn't bother me, but the fact the coupling contradicts later canon where the characters marry other people did, a bit. I'm not incapable of enjoying stories which contradict canon-in-my-head, they just have to try harder :)

(*)a whole planets worth, in fact

[volandum.livejournal.com]

Sequiturs.

Hmm.

[tevriel.livejournal.com]

See, the thing is?

I think you and I have similar fanfic tastes, but differing fandoms. Also, I too only read recs that look interesting.

[alias_sqbr]

*coughs*

*points to the very first slash I ever read, a Cinderella themed Seven of Nine/Janeway romance, by whom I shall not say*

Also surely we have some fandoms in common. If you haven't at least tried the Jossverse, Lois McMaster Bujold or Babylon Five then there is something very wrong with the world.

[tevriel.livejournal.com]

Hmm, was it "Snow: A Voyager Lullaby"? Because if not, I need to read it.

And:

Jossverse: Quite liked Buffy, never got into the fic.

Lois McMaster Bujold: Never read her.

Babylon 5: Did like it, then JMS killed my love.

[alias_sqbr]

You Must Read Lois McMaster Bujold. I will lend you "Shards of Honour" the first chance I get, which may be a while with the whole moving thing. What killed B5 for you, was it Byron?

I don't remember the name, I just remember it was a link on your homepage :)

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

I'd hug you but I know you don't like it. Welcome to my world! (also, see you on wednesday)

[norah.livejournal.com]

Was vanity googling self and found this. Eeexcellent. They say if you convert enough people to fandom you get a free toaster. I am almost there!

A sequel to "A Deeper Season"> is being posted as I type. In installments.

And as soon as it is done I'll have another set of rarelit recs up.

[alias_sqbr]

I've actually been meaning to go through and post feedback on all the lifechangingly awesome fannish stuff I have encountered (I want to be methodical or I'll end up feedbacking the same person like 3 times, which would be awkward :)) and as part of it was totally meaning to give you a huge thanks for converting me to The Joy That Is Fanfic. Of course, the longer I leave it the more awesome things I encounter...

Anyway: huge thanks! I say you deserve two toasters. Plus a breadmaker.

Also, yay more deeper season! Yay more recs! Truly, it is a wonderful time to be alive :)

[norah.livejournal.com]

Alive and in fandom! Yes! God, I love fandom. I'm so glad I could lure you in. :)

[alias_sqbr]

So am I :)