Two individuals stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking a sick and twisted forest, gazing towards the ruins shadowed in darkness just beyond the forest border. The two were a curious pair, one was short where the other was tall, one was cheerful where the other was serious, and one wore green where the other wore blue. They were a contrast of characters, but it did not affect their treatment of the other. A comfortable silence was held between them, indicating long companionship and intimate knowledge of the other.
“Do you remember the fables of times long past?” spoke the short and cheerful one, turning his head to regard his taller companion, head tilted upwards like a child looking up to a parent.
“Places like this, those stories are almost too kind,” was the response received, keen eyes roving over the shapes in the distance.
Silent agreement passed between the two. The surface on which they stood was the planet Ziost, dark and tainted, unfit for life, but held multitudes of dangerous creatures in the dark depths of its wilderness. The two could feel the taint of the planet, crawling over their skin due to their sensitivity to the Force, far more attuned to such things than ordinary mortals.
Sage Masters, the few individuals who dedicated their lives in study of the Force itself, its nature, and its effect on the living. They were old and wise, had met many dangers that they had bested, both alone and together. Now they were undertaking the most important of tasks, and the most difficult. To cleanse a place of Dark Side taint was difficult and draining for those involved, but these two were sworn to serve the Light and chase shadows away from every corner of the galaxy.
The forest ahead was thick with no clear course to follow, treacherous for all who dared wander, but despite this the two found a rocky trail to lead them into the heart of it. It was one of many obstacles to their ultimate goal and it would be defeated like all the rest.
Branches of dead trees curled their bony fingers into the fabric of the two Masters cloaks, silently discouraging them from their planned course of action. The two ignored the silent warning, shrugging the appendages off, sharp snaps accompanying as the flimsy limbs broke. Fallen leaves crunched underneath their boots as they made their way along the obscure track created by nameless creatures. The wind howled above them, foreboding.
The path led them onwards, out of the forest and amongst ruined walls, the empty remnants of the city that had rested on the border of the forest eons before. Beyond the ruined city a fortress rose up from the ground, resting on a plateau and looming above them. Like the city, it was also in ruins, but its dark spires held firm, empowered by the dark presence that still dwelled in its walls. It was their final warning, the point of no return.
“It makes one wonder what sort of culture lived on Ziost before it became corrupted,” the shorter murmured, with far more interest in history than his companion. They did not meet each other’s gaze, staring ahead.
“It is no worry of ours,” he replied, a hand gesturing towards the looming citadel beyond the city. Their route was clear, they had to merely step along the provided passageway.
As they walked, they noticed that there was little trace of former inhabitants, merely the empty shells of abandoned buildings, mournfully drooping as their walls crumbled. This was not the place it used to be. The road beneath their feet led them towards their intended goal, cracked and ruined, worn.
The pathway came to a sudden stop by the foreboding gate of the citadel, an area awash in shadow, portcullis looming above them, angled to the side thanks to erosion of the supports. The two cut through, their step firm and sure as they left the broken cobbles and stepped over the cracked flagstones of an ancient courtyard. Weeds and dying foliage grew out of cracks, crawling up the wall in a futile attempt to reach the sky. Ahead there stood three grand archways, two of equal size flanking a larger one, leading into a black void. The ancient outdated architecture elicited begrudging respect from both Masters, admiration of a glorious period long past, but now had been tainted.
“We must be cautious, the dark side is treacherous,” the shorter muttered, knowledge of the traps and tricks that awaited them held intimately in his mind. They had been encountered many times before in similar buildings, darkness was uniform.
“We will prevail, brother. The Force will guide us,” the taller returned, staring ever impassively at the scene before them, the three massive archways’ black mass seemingly draining all light from the area. Leeching off hope, fear, and anger.
“The Force will guide us home,” the other finished, a bright untarnished grin flitting over his face as he turned to his companion.
The serious and severe man cracked a tentative smile at the sight of his partner’s unabashed joy in light of their knowledge of the Force. He settled a hand on the others shoulder, squeezed it lightly, and they stepped through the largest archway together. Facing their destiny as the Force dictated.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Alan Wake: Shifting Sanity Draft 3
I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the cabin, days, weeks, months, time didn’t seem to move. There was no light outside. The inky darkness that surrounded the cabins exterior blocked out the world in which I had left, it locked me in, consumed my thoughts and dreams, took away my diminishing hope.
For a while the cabin was empty, I existed alone, the writer, the man who dared to rewrite destiny. I had written the manuscript to save the only person to ever matter to me, my wife, my muse.
I battled through plot twists, drama, and horror, fought against creatures of the night; I called them Taken, the empty shells of those dominated by the dark presence. I had sacrificed myself and many others to save her; I took on the darkness with a childhood myth, the clicker. I then ended the story with a metaphor.
I thought with the story over I could leave, but I kept writing. I couldn’t stop. It wasn’t Departure anymore, not even the sequel, my writing had lost rhythm, it no longer flowed like it used to when I had motivation, words were disjointed, jumbled and lacking any sense. Alice was saved but the story had died. Did I die?
At some point I noticed a change in the small house, a presence, one of dark twisted insanity. When I was completely alone, everything seemed calm; I still seemed to have my sanity intact somehow. Then he appeared. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or if my sanity had slowly started to disintegrate, either way he was here. But why?
He would smile at me, maniacally like a psychopath restrained. His eyes were wide and bloodshot; they never lost contact with my own, as if he only existed in my gaze. He spoke in mutters, never directed to anyone, insane whispers about no escape.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or an evil twin, his clothes were copies of my own, the same tweed jacket and black hoodie combination, that 5 o’clock shadow, even the same plaster I had received after the car accident, he looked so real but was he. Was I real?
It was unsettling. Zane had called him Mr. Scratch, he told me not to worry about him, he would meet my friends when I was gone. But I was worried. Why was he here? What had happened to my friends?
Sometimes my mind would shift outside of the cabin, into a world of my own twisted imagination, a world fighting me, dragging me deeper into insanity; its surroundings were familiar yet strange, like something out of a demented dream. The landscape was cracked and broken, shifting every time I slipped deeper into the dark void. Zane tried to help me through these times, told me to follow the signal to safety, he gave me tools to aid me through the darkness but they were not the only things that helped me. It had been the memories of times long forgotten that had kept me going the most, memories of Alice, of our times together before I lost my creativity, memories of Barry Wheeler my literary agent and sheriff Sarah Breaker who had aided me on my mission to save my wife who was trapped beneath the black waters of Cauldron lake.
Unfortunately Scratch had followed me into the nightmares too, he watched me suffer through the TV, tried to drag me back under into the darkness that I was trying to escape. He had dictated the horrors that came at every turn; created a new breed of Taken which were both stronger and faster than anything I had faced up in the real world, if that had been the real world. He forced me to fight, forced me to use up my short supply of batteries and bullets. He spoke like a demented storyteller, as if being trapped within the four walls of Bird Leg Cabin had driven him insane. If what Zane had said was true, if he really was so harmless, then why was he trying to kill me?
I’m trying to escape the cabin now, hunting through the scattered pages of the manuscript for a loophole, insurance, the key to escaping the nightmare that I have locked myself in. There has to be one here. I need to discover the truth about the dark presence and the power of Cauldron Lake, stop this from ever happening again, I need to finish what Thomas Zane started.
How did I get here…?
There’s no way out, no way out of here, I need to get out of here, get out of here, how do I get out!
…
For a while the cabin was empty, I existed alone, the writer, the man who dared to rewrite destiny. I had written the manuscript to save the only person to ever matter to me, my wife, my muse.
I battled through plot twists, drama, and horror, fought against creatures of the night; I called them Taken, the empty shells of those dominated by the dark presence. I had sacrificed myself and many others to save her; I took on the darkness with a childhood myth, the clicker. I then ended the story with a metaphor.
I thought with the story over I could leave, but I kept writing. I couldn’t stop. It wasn’t Departure anymore, not even the sequel, my writing had lost rhythm, it no longer flowed like it used to when I had motivation, words were disjointed, jumbled and lacking any sense. Alice was saved but the story had died. Did I die?
At some point I noticed a change in the small house, a presence, one of dark twisted insanity. When I was completely alone, everything seemed calm; I still seemed to have my sanity intact somehow. Then he appeared. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or if my sanity had slowly started to disintegrate, either way he was here. But why?
He would smile at me, maniacally like a psychopath restrained. His eyes were wide and bloodshot; they never lost contact with my own, as if he only existed in my gaze. He spoke in mutters, never directed to anyone, insane whispers about no escape.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or an evil twin, his clothes were copies of my own, the same tweed jacket and black hoodie combination, that 5 o’clock shadow, even the same plaster I had received after the car accident, he looked so real but was he. Was I real?
It was unsettling. Zane had called him Mr. Scratch, he told me not to worry about him, he would meet my friends when I was gone. But I was worried. Why was he here? What had happened to my friends?
Sometimes my mind would shift outside of the cabin, into a world of my own twisted imagination, a world fighting me, dragging me deeper into insanity; its surroundings were familiar yet strange, like something out of a demented dream. The landscape was cracked and broken, shifting every time I slipped deeper into the dark void. Zane tried to help me through these times, told me to follow the signal to safety, he gave me tools to aid me through the darkness but they were not the only things that helped me. It had been the memories of times long forgotten that had kept me going the most, memories of Alice, of our times together before I lost my creativity, memories of Barry Wheeler my literary agent and sheriff Sarah Breaker who had aided me on my mission to save my wife who was trapped beneath the black waters of Cauldron lake.
Unfortunately Scratch had followed me into the nightmares too, he watched me suffer through the TV, tried to drag me back under into the darkness that I was trying to escape. He had dictated the horrors that came at every turn; created a new breed of Taken which were both stronger and faster than anything I had faced up in the real world, if that had been the real world. He forced me to fight, forced me to use up my short supply of batteries and bullets. He spoke like a demented storyteller, as if being trapped within the four walls of Bird Leg Cabin had driven him insane. If what Zane had said was true, if he really was so harmless, then why was he trying to kill me?
I’m trying to escape the cabin now, hunting through the scattered pages of the manuscript for a loophole, insurance, the key to escaping the nightmare that I have locked myself in. There has to be one here. I need to discover the truth about the dark presence and the power of Cauldron Lake, stop this from ever happening again, I need to finish what Thomas Zane started.
How did I get here…?
There’s no way out, no way out of here, I need to get out of here, get out of here, how do I get out!
…
Cthulhu Fhtagn
1. Deviant Art
R'lyeh
One Nation Under CthulhuR'lyeh
"The nightmare corpse-city of R'lyeh that was built in measureless eons behind history by the vast, loathsome shapes that seeped down from the dark stars. There lay great Cthulhu and his hordes, hidden in green slimy vaults and sending out at last, after cycles incalculable, the thoughts that spread fear to the dreams of the sensitive and called imperiously to the faithful to come on a pilgrimage of liberation and restoration."— H. P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"
"He talked of his dreams in a strangely poetic fashion; making me see with terrible vividness the damp Cyclopean city of slimy green stone—whose geometry, he oddly said , was all wrong—
...abnormal, non-euclidean, and loathsomely redolent of spheres and dimensions apart from ours."
Cthulhu Rises
There is an extroadinary amount of fantasy art on the internet based in the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft trully created a completely new and original mythology, one that artists of all kinds continue to tap into. The above examples will give you a sense of what Lovecraft was all about but there's just somethign about non-euclidean geometry or beings that straddle dimensions and will send you bat-shit insane just by glimpsing them, that defies visual representation.
2. I Cthulhu
I Cthulhu
or What's A Tentacle-Faced Thing Like Me Doing In A Sunken City Like This (Latitude 47° 9' S, Longitude 126° 43' W)?
by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman, famous as a comic book writer, a novelist and recently, a script writer, has written a homage to Lovecraft by way of a parody in which Cthulhu relates his memoirs to a human slave. It is quite funny and although it obviously takes license in its rendition of Cthulhu (as if the Great Old One would stoop to having a chat with a mere mortal), it is full of faithful references to the whole Cthulhu cannon. Gaiman even uses some of the language of Lovecraft in some of the dialog although overall, it is written in his own unique style. The character of Cthulu in this piece has basically a human psychology-something which, if I had less sense of humor, I might deem downright heretical. I always preferred Gaiman's comics to his prose (never did manage to finish one of his novels), that said, I really enjoyed it. I imagine though that a lot of the humor would be lost on non-believers.
3. Mountains of Madness
Selections from Mountains Of Madness. Directed and performed by Danielle de Picciotto, Alexander Hacke and The Tiger Lillies. The drawings and animation are by Danielle de Picciotto.
Each of the songs are based on a story by H. P. Lovecraft. I find the interpretations really interesting even if the music is not of a kind I would imagine when reading Lovecraft.Some people might be put off by Martyn Jacques' falsetto vocals but I find them very haunting and dramatic. I thought The Tiger Lillies cabaret style an odd fit for Lovecraft when I first heard it but the music is meticulously constructed and humurous in a macabre way. Alexander Hacke reads Lovecraft brilliantly, his guttural narrations bringing the words to life and his electronic doom soundscapes are perfectly visceral in their brooding. The stage design and artwork by Danielle de Picciotto is again not what I associate with Lovecraft but it is very interesting work and suits the performance in its head-spinning strangeness.
4. Do You Know What's Wrong?
Now his souls an empty cup.
Like a vampire of the night,
Shies away from the daylight.
Does he know what's wrong?
So edward is eaten up,
By somethign so corrupt.
What is left?
A poisoned shell
And his own living hell.
Does he know what's wrong?
Oh Edward, you should've been
This castles king.
Now you're left in dungeons dim,
To mourn, mourn your sin.
Does he know what's wrong?
What is left is raw regret.
Like a man who's lost the bet.
Just a case of might have beens.
How you pay for your sin?
Do you know whats wrong?
So the thing under the doorstep
Is just your regret,
In your funeral shroud.
I will sing, sing it loud-
Do you know whats wrong?
And right?
The song is based on The Thing on the Doorstep. The story is narrated by a man, Daniel, whos best friend Edward Derby marries a woman named Asenath. Shortly thereafter Edward begins to suspect that his wife's late father, Ephraim is still alive. One night Edward tells Daniel that Asenath has been using his body by soul-transferrence and that he suspects that it is actually Ephraim inhabiting Asenath's body. Eventually Daniel gets Edward taken to Arkham Sanitarium. Daniel is then awoken in the night by a knock on the door. He opens it to find a dwarfen messenger who gives him a letter from Edward. In the letter Edward tells Daniel that he killed his wife and buried her in their cellar but that Asenath-Ephraim have taken over his body. The letter asks Daniel to go to the sanitarium and kill Edward and so be rid of Asenath-Ephraim. Daniel does so. The "thing on the doorstep" was Edward using his wifes putrefying corpse.
A very melancholy but powerful song. It is very evocative of regret and weakness-It was due to Edward's weakness of character that he fell victim to his wife's machinations. It is an oddly domestic story from a writer that usually carried his stories with overtones of cosmic horror. The song itself is fairly straightforward and makes a lot of sense once you know the story.
5. The Mountaintops
On the tallest of earth's peaks, live the gods of whom I speak,
In the wastes where no-one treads, except those who are dead,
Climb the mountaintops and have no fear.
Barzai The Wise dreams, seeks god before he dies,
He believes it to be a lie, to see them means that you must die,
Climb the mountaintops and have no fear.
So he climbed to the peaks, to see the god whom he did seek,
Though all around they cried: "Barzai is sure to die",
Climb the mountaintops and have no fear.
So strong is his belief, or is it just deceit,
So onward he does climb, to god and the divine,
Climb the mountaintops and have no fear.
The song is based on Lovecraft's short story The Other Gods. The story is set in a pre-historic civilization. The prophet Barzai the Wise and his apprentice Atal venture through the desert to Hatheg-Kla and climb the mountain in search of the Gods of Earth. Instead of the Gods of Earth however they find "other gods, the gods of the outer hells that guard the feeble gods of earth!" Atal abandons his master to his fate and Barzai is never seen again.
The song makes me think of Barzai's spiritual quest as a metaphor for the human pursuit of knowledge. Lovecraft saw potential dangers coming from the progress of science and technology. In particular he saw Einstein's Theory of Relativity as "throwing the world into chaos and making the cosmos a jest." (Wikipedia.) The refrain "climb the mountaintops and have no fear" is a mockery of the quest. In Barzai's case there certainly was cause for fear and it was the strength of his belief that led to his doom.
“Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new Dark Age."—H.P. Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu”
6. Unearthing
Preview of the new audio / visual project 'Unearthing' written and narrated by Alan Moore with images from Mitch Jenkins. Soundtrack from Crook&Flail, Mike Patton, Zack Hill (Hella), Justin Broadrick (Jesu / Godflesh) and Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai). Box set including 3 x LP, 3 x CD, photo, transcript and poster only available to pre-order now from Lex Records.
Read the NYTimes review of Unearthing
Alan Moore was the creative mind behind influential comics such as Watchmen and V for Vendetta. Unearthing is a spoken word homage to Steve Moore, a british comic book writer and pioneer of fanzines who inspired Alan Moore (no relation) to enter the comics industry.
The prose is heady and thick, Alan's voice a seductively low vibrating drone set to transcendental post-rock riffs. It lulls the listener into a state of arousal akin to a psychedelic experience, transporting us to Shooters Hill in South London and into the UK comic book scene with its tales of "omnipotent losers". It has a kind of mythological resonance but instead of gods the writer is hero and the imagination his weapons.
7. Between the Stars
Short film, Netherlands, 1998.
Directed by Djie Han Thung
Based on Azathoth.
http://www.thung.nl/
Between the Stars seems to ape the style of David Lynch's early films Eraserhead and The Elephant Man with its bleak industrial environment filmed in black and white and the psychic queerness of the character. I've never been the biggest fan of Lynch and this short film seems a bit plodding for me. I did like though the idea of this guy sticking the board out of the window to lie staring up at the stars, or rather, at the space between stars. The scene in the book store shows that he has found something that is eating away at him, slowly but surely drawing him down into the abyss. He lies night after night, transfixed on the night sky, looking apparently for something, we don't know what. Then finally, the firmament gives way and he reaches for the void, finds the gap and vanishes into it. It is a neat little metaphor but it is ultimately too simple and unfulfilling for me.
8. At the Mountains of Madness
A faux movie trailer for Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Propnomicon
http://propnomicon.blogspot.com/
I'm sure everyone is aware of the genre of fake movie trailers, produced by mashing up clips from different movies to create a new hybrid storyline. Usually these trailers are ironically hilarious. In this one the creator has attempted a more earnest depiction of what an adaptation of "At the Mountains of Madness" would actually be like. I'm not sure where the clips are from but the narrative depicted by their sequence is true to the novel as far as I can tell (not having read it).
As far as trailers go it is suspenseful and dramatic and gives an idea to the epic scale of the story. It shows the underground vaults into which the explorers descend but otherwise does not show anything of the "Elder Things" or the "Shoggoths" they find there. This might be a problem in a real film trailer as the viewer would be left wondering what the film is all about. Within the genre of faux movie trailers however I think it was a cool idea and well executed.
~Apparently Guillermo del Toro is set to direct a big budget 3D adaptation of At the Mountains of Madness. James Cameron has signed on to produce.
9. Ryleh
3D short film, France, 2003.
Director: Mikael Genachte-Le Bail, Gaetan Boutet.
Music: Cédric Genachte-Le Bail.
"An old fisherman brings a mysterious chest up in his nets. He brings it back home only to discover that it was best left at the bottom of the sea. A digitally animated short film inspired by the world of H.P. Lovecraft".
http://ryleh.free.fr/
The animation and music in this piece is very professional and the story captures many of the elements of the Cthulhu mythos-The dreaded sea and the desolation of forgotten shores; the fisherman's catch of an apocryphal book and the stone statue of the Cthulhu cultists (both familiar artifacts in the mythos) which lead him to fascination, bleeding into delerium; the arrival of the cyclopean city and the final liberation of death.
I think this film could be a good introduction for anyone unfamiliar with Lovecraft. Ultimately however the simplicity of the story and the unoriginality of it left me flat. There just wasn't enough of a story and it just felt like a recombining of obvious themes from many of Lovecraft's works. I didn't have enough of a feel for the character or for the descent into madness that must surely occur on the road of any worthy pilgrim slumping his way to R'lyeh. And oh yeah, I just don't think being french is any excuse for misspelling the name of His Unholiness' throne.
10. A Lovecraft Dream
Animated short film, Italy, 2008.
Written & Directed by Michele Botticelli
Music and drawings by Leonardo manna
"A short movie based on the real H.P.Lovecraft character and his nightmares."
http://thetillinghast.altervista.org/
The stochastic nature of the animation and the music in this film does a great job of evoking the sense of dread and the looming threat of madness in the clutches of feverish dreams of contact with abominable entities from unknown spaces. The queer motion of things and the flash cuts add a queesy feeling of sea sickness making you feel how the dreamer is tossed about on the ineffable seas of infinity. The sketchy black and white artwork works because it plays on the sketchiness of the imagery with its demented forms that can only, even vaguely be captured by falling into metaphor. It provides us a view into the authors state of mind as he is assailed by nightmare visions from which he wakes to scrawl out "The Call of Cthulhu" in his note book. To know these beings is to see down into the cracks in a seemingly ordered universe and glimpse the chaos that threatens to crush in upon our naive reality.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sara's 10 fanfics
I, Artemis, is the first chapter of Artemis, Lady of the Hunt, a fanfic story based on Greek mythology. Centering on Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, the author begins with a short back-story; giving insight into how the other Gods view Artemis. Through the premise of a winter solstice meeting of the Gods, Artemis then offers her personal bias on each one of them, from Apollo to Hades. This gives the reader an insight into the psyche of the character by her opinion of others. Although slightly tiresome to read a personal opinion on an assortment of characters, they give vital information for which the rest of the story rests on. The ‘everyday’ life of a Greek God is played out, including power plays, friendships, and feelings of insecurity and anger as strong as any humans.
Quarantine is a short piece of crossover fanfiction between the worlds of The Mighty Boosh and Red Dwarf. The majority of the work is a dialogue between the two main characters of The Mighty Boosh, Howard Moon and Vince Noir. It is only revealed at the end that they are on the spaceship of Red Dwarf, which is the only Red Dwarf mention in the story. However, the dialogue is well-written and stays accurate to the characters, while managing to be humourous.
Penny Lane Penny Lane
Animal Farm Journal Entries and Poem is a fanfic piece based on the novel Animal Farm. It includes three journal entries from the point of view of the character Benjamin, a poem about the events of the novel, and a diary entry from the point of view of the character Moses. The poem is a well-written overview of the events of the novel, however both the journal and the diary are too jarring to read, and would benefit greatly from some editing by the author. Too many linking words take away the impression of trains of thought, which is what they are supposed to be. The hand of the writer is too evident in the crafting of the words.
Fidelity is a fanfic inspired by the author’s belief in the bible. A dentist’s waiting room is the catalyst for a Christian and an atheist to have a conversation about religion, faith and evolution. It is written from the point of view of the atheist, with a short introduction of the Christian observing the atheist in the office. The woman’s evolutionary beliefs are challenged by the disheveled Christian man, who is hinted at as being an angel. The author gives a good sense of who the characters are by well-observed description of how they interact. Whether a reader’s beliefs align with the character of the atheist or the Christian, it is a well-observed story that gives food for thought.
Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare is a fanfiction based on the movie (500) Days of Summer, focusing on the two main characters having a chance encounter three years after the movie concluded its story. The movie ended with Tom, heartbroken over ‘girlfriend’ Summer’s decision to end their unconventional relationship, start to rebuild his life after the discovery that Summer is to be married, and also shows the potential for a new relationship. This fanfic captures the slight awkwardness of their first encounter since then. The author manages to say a lot about the relationship with little information, and the characters come to life quite vividly. The development of the character of Autumn from scratch, who only appeared in the movie briefly, is very well done, and contrasts nicely with the character of Summer. However, this work could use some editing in the non-dialogue parts, to make it flow better.
Inevitable is fanfic about the television show Green Wing, and shows characters turning up hung-over the morning to work after a big night. The author captures the very particular comedic tone of the show surprisingly well, with surrealist elements shown through this mainly dialogue-based work. However, the way the work is laid out, with lots of singular lines, with a lack of commas to give rest to the reader, gives it a rushed tone that could be augmented by some editing. It does however; suggest the author would have adeptness for script-writing.
Sense of reality is based on the television series Black Books. It is the first chapter in a series about what happens when the characters of Bernard, Manny and Fran accept an offer to take part in a reality show, filmed at the Black Books shop. The author has a habit of following most lines of dialogue with descriptions of what the characters are doing or feeling, taking the focus off the dialogue, which is where the potential for humour lies. It takes on narrative structure like a book, or some kind of drama. However, the artistic license is well-used to express the spirit of the characters from the show, humour or no humour.
Roy
Quarantine is a short piece of crossover fanfiction between the worlds of The Mighty Boosh and Red Dwarf. The majority of the work is a dialogue between the two main characters of The Mighty Boosh, Howard Moon and Vince Noir. It is only revealed at the end that they are on the spaceship of Red Dwarf, which is the only Red Dwarf mention in the story. However, the dialogue is well-written and stays accurate to the characters, while managing to be humourous.
Animal Farm Journal Entries and Poem is a fanfic piece based on the novel Animal Farm. It includes three journal entries from the point of view of the character Benjamin, a poem about the events of the novel, and a diary entry from the point of view of the character Moses. The poem is a well-written overview of the events of the novel, however both the journal and the diary are too jarring to read, and would benefit greatly from some editing by the author. Too many linking words take away the impression of trains of thought, which is what they are supposed to be. The hand of the writer is too evident in the crafting of the words.
Fidelity is a fanfic inspired by the author’s belief in the bible. A dentist’s waiting room is the catalyst for a Christian and an atheist to have a conversation about religion, faith and evolution. It is written from the point of view of the atheist, with a short introduction of the Christian observing the atheist in the office. The woman’s evolutionary beliefs are challenged by the disheveled Christian man, who is hinted at as being an angel. The author gives a good sense of who the characters are by well-observed description of how they interact. Whether a reader’s beliefs align with the character of the atheist or the Christian, it is a well-observed story that gives food for thought.
Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare is a fanfiction based on the movie (500) Days of Summer, focusing on the two main characters having a chance encounter three years after the movie concluded its story. The movie ended with Tom, heartbroken over ‘girlfriend’ Summer’s decision to end their unconventional relationship, start to rebuild his life after the discovery that Summer is to be married, and also shows the potential for a new relationship. This fanfic captures the slight awkwardness of their first encounter since then. The author manages to say a lot about the relationship with little information, and the characters come to life quite vividly. The development of the character of Autumn from scratch, who only appeared in the movie briefly, is very well done, and contrasts nicely with the character of Summer. However, this work could use some editing in the non-dialogue parts, to make it flow better.
Inevitable is fanfic about the television show Green Wing, and shows characters turning up hung-over the morning to work after a big night. The author captures the very particular comedic tone of the show surprisingly well, with surrealist elements shown through this mainly dialogue-based work. However, the way the work is laid out, with lots of singular lines, with a lack of commas to give rest to the reader, gives it a rushed tone that could be augmented by some editing. It does however; suggest the author would have adeptness for script-writing.
Sense of reality is based on the television series Black Books. It is the first chapter in a series about what happens when the characters of Bernard, Manny and Fran accept an offer to take part in a reality show, filmed at the Black Books shop. The author has a habit of following most lines of dialogue with descriptions of what the characters are doing or feeling, taking the focus off the dialogue, which is where the potential for humour lies. It takes on narrative structure like a book, or some kind of drama. However, the artistic license is well-used to express the spirit of the characters from the show, humour or no humour.
The Switch is based on the television series The Mighty Boosh. It is the first of many chapters following the main characters as they go on a magical adventure, reminiscent of an actual episode. This work is extremely well-written and engrossing, balancing both abstract and concrete descriptions which bring it vividly to life. It is written in such a way as it could be a book, or a very detailed script for filming. All aspects of this fanfiction are great.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Alan Wake: Shifting Sanity (draft)
I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the cabin, days, weeks, months, time didn’t seem to move. There was no light outside, the inky darkness that surrounded the cabins exterior blocked out the world in which I had left, it locked me in, consumed my thoughts and dreams, took away my hope.
In the cabin there was only I, the writer. I had written the manuscript to save my wife, my muse, but with her saved and the story over my writing has lost rhythm, it no longer flows like it did, when I had motivation. The story had died.
There were times in the cabin when I was completely alone, times where everything seemed calm, then there were times when he was there. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or my own lack of sanity but he was there.
He smiled at me maniacally like a psychopath restrained, his eyes never lost contact with my own as if only existing in my gaze.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or evil twin, his clothes copies of my own, but was he real, was I real.
-----------------------------
I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the cabin, days, weeks, months, time didn’t seem to move. There was no light outside. The inky darkness that surrounded the cabins exterior blocked out the world in which I had left, it locked me in, consumed my thoughts and dreams, took away my diminishing hope.
In the cabin there was only I, the writer. I had written the manuscript to save my wife, my muse, but with her saved and the story over my writing has lost rhythm, it no longer flows like it did, when I had motivation. The story had died. Have I died?
There were times in the cabin when I was completely alone, times where everything seemed calm, then there were times when he was there. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or my own lack of sanity but he was there.
He smiled at me maniacally like a psychopath restrained. His eyes wide and bloodshot never lost contact with my own, as if only existing in my gaze.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or evil twin, his clothes copies of my own, but was he real, was I real.
It was unsettling. Zane had called him Mr. Scratch, he told me not to worry about him he would meet my friends when I was gone, but I was worried. Why was he here?
Sometimes my mind shifts outside of the cabin, into a world of my own twisted imagination, a world fighting me, dragging me deeper into insanity; its surroundings were unfamiliar, like a suppressed memory. These moments or shifts took their toll. Scratch had followed me, watched me suffer through the TV. He had dictated the horrors that came at every turn, like a demented storyteller, if he was so harmless, why did he try to kill me.
In the cabin there was only I, the writer. I had written the manuscript to save my wife, my muse, but with her saved and the story over my writing has lost rhythm, it no longer flows like it did, when I had motivation. The story had died.
There were times in the cabin when I was completely alone, times where everything seemed calm, then there were times when he was there. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or my own lack of sanity but he was there.
He smiled at me maniacally like a psychopath restrained, his eyes never lost contact with my own as if only existing in my gaze.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or evil twin, his clothes copies of my own, but was he real, was I real.
-----------------------------
I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the cabin, days, weeks, months, time didn’t seem to move. There was no light outside. The inky darkness that surrounded the cabins exterior blocked out the world in which I had left, it locked me in, consumed my thoughts and dreams, took away my diminishing hope.
In the cabin there was only I, the writer. I had written the manuscript to save my wife, my muse, but with her saved and the story over my writing has lost rhythm, it no longer flows like it did, when I had motivation. The story had died. Have I died?
There were times in the cabin when I was completely alone, times where everything seemed calm, then there were times when he was there. The man that existed outside of logic, I wasn’t sure if my manuscript had brought him here or my own lack of sanity but he was there.
He smiled at me maniacally like a psychopath restrained. His eyes wide and bloodshot never lost contact with my own, as if only existing in my gaze.
His features were identical to those of my own, like a clone or evil twin, his clothes copies of my own, but was he real, was I real.
It was unsettling. Zane had called him Mr. Scratch, he told me not to worry about him he would meet my friends when I was gone, but I was worried. Why was he here?
Sometimes my mind shifts outside of the cabin, into a world of my own twisted imagination, a world fighting me, dragging me deeper into insanity; its surroundings were unfamiliar, like a suppressed memory. These moments or shifts took their toll. Scratch had followed me, watched me suffer through the TV. He had dictated the horrors that came at every turn, like a demented storyteller, if he was so harmless, why did he try to kill me.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Tiril's 10 Reviews
The Day The World Went Away - Terminator
The chaptered fan fiction undertakes weaving a story of Marcus Wright’s life both before and after the Terminator Salvation film. Considering the subject matter, it takes on a decidedly dark and dramatic feel to it which is fitting for the character and the Terminator canon. Everything is from Marcus’ point-of-view as the reader is treated with small scenes from his life before Skynet turned him into a Terminator. This particular fiction is interesting how it shows us Marcus’ human memories in reverse, starting from his time on death row and ending with a scene of he and his brother enjoying a swim in a river.
There is very little dialogue in the beginning, the author relying on Marcus’ inner monologue to carry the story and to set down the scene, and toward the end changing to rely more on dialogue to show the differences between Kyle and Marcus in their beliefs. The order of it causes some confusion, as it isn’t linear and it takes some of the reader’s intuition to figure out if the author is handling the past or the present. The story relies heavily on the descriptive, which can either be fitting for the reader or too much depending on personal preference. Some might find issue with the characterisation of Marcus, I have too limited knowledge to really establish an opinion on the matter, but the authors interpretation is merely one of many, as Marcus as a character doesn’t get much development in the film.
It does occasionally adopt the peculiar practice of inserting random lines in brackets, which can either be interpreted as connected or unconnected with what is actually going on. This strikes me as odd, but does not remove from the experience too much. I do enjoy how the author underlines how Marcus thinks differently from the Resistance he has joined, most notably Kyle, and does insert some musing on the fact that he is no longer a human, but a Terminator.
I Was a Dad Once - Doctor Who
This fan fiction begins with a simple line that serves as the premise for the entire piece. Predictably, the line is the same as the story title. It revolves around the title character from Doctor Who, the Doctor, and his reminiscing of the past and a non-canonical child. As far as structure and spelling goes, this piece of writing is high in quality; however that is not the defining element to any piece of writing. The beginning storyline unfolds simply enough, familiar to anyone who has seen episodes of Doctor Who, with the Doctor running from some unnamed danger.
As it continues it turns iffy, turning away from the simple recipe of Doctor Who and into a barely hidden self-insert. The original character introduced seems incapable of being overly affected by the sudden unusual events and the stranger at her door. The usual tough girl recipe is used for the woman, making the Mary Sue element of her obvious. She takes the Doctor’s presence in stride, which is suspicious in any media other than the original, but the author should be given props for her dialogue and ability to keep the Doctor in character, keeping the conversations interesting and plausible for the character involved.
The largest minus for this piece of fan fiction is the Mary Sue and deviation from Doctor Who canon, as it is known that the Doctor has a daughter, but that child did not stem from a spunky American who lived in Los Angeles. The premise and original character is a definite downside, but the overall quality of writing turns a potentially tortuous experience into merely mild annoyance at the cliché elements taken into use.
Homeward Bound - Star Wars
This small vignette is focused on the relationship between Han Solo and Leia Organa at the definite end of their lives from Han’s point-of-view. It relies heavily on the Extended Universe of Star Wars, which is vastly different and far more evolved than the film canon. In this respect I cannot be certain if either of the established characters are portrayed correctly or not, as the EU is a blind spot, but the portrayal seems to carry some of their old characterisations, if aged by the years of apparent struggle the two have gone through. The piece nods to the established Star Wars canon, mentioning the death of Anakin Solo and Chewbacca, the family troubles, and Han’s shortcomings as a father and family man.
The story itself focuses heavily on the emotional aspects of what the characters are going through. Leia is sick, dying, and Han is being left behind. Creating dialogue for this is difficult, and the author should receive some recognition for managing to fashion it in an only slightly wince inducing manner. It is of note how the author proceeds to show just how far gone Leia is, depicting her as delusional and unable to recall where she is. The whole thing is aimed at the emotional state of Han and the grief that stems from his wife’s impending death.
I did feel that it did turn a bit overly dramatic as I read on, but that may perhaps only be due to the sudden appearance of Leia, now dead, as a Force spectre. The Force itself is a difficult concept for those who are not familiar with it, but the use of it in the end of this piece is familiar in the aspect of its use as a tool to connect the two even after death. That in particular is an overused effect in heavy handed emotional pieces, but it must be noted that there seems to be little else in way of closure for Han in the point of view we’re given. The vignette would be perfect if it had ended there, but when the author proceeds to depict the afterlife it becomes a bit much and the poignant scene turns into an overly sweet ending that robs it of some of its impact on the reader.
The Not Quite Love Letters - Star Wars
This interesting chaptered story, based off the Star Wars canon, shows the progress through the film through various messaging media, rather than plain writing. It focuses on Han Solo and Leia Organa and their slow developing relationship from an entirely non-canon and humorous vantage point. The style of switching point-of-views regularly, and sometimes to entirely different characters than those the fan fiction focuses on could perhaps be confusing for some, but I managed to follow it and found it highly entertaining. It doesn’t regard itself highly, so it entirely possible to forgive any irregularities in canon and it does have the added bonus of undertaking actual canon events and reflecting it through the unique style the author has adopted. The writing isn’t grade a, but most can be forgiven with the wit of the piece and the fact that it is supposed to be humorous.
The representations of the characters are a bit erratic at times; Leia in particular is shown as more inexperienced than she actually is, with Han being less of the learned criminal that he has been established as in both the film canon and extended universe canon. However, as it is presented as a piece that regularly makes fun of itself, these irregularities can be forgiven for the sake of the enjoyment it offers.
Never Go Back - Firefly
The 26-chaptered story of Never Go Back, continuing the story of the crew of the Serenity after the motion picture of the same name, is told from the point-of-view of the character River. It depicts her struggles going from a science experience of the government and into the guise of a not-quite ordinary girl turning into a young woman and those around her unable to grasp the concept. The representation of River, from her Reader abilities to her convoluted mental processes, is spot on for the character from the series Firefly and the motion picture Serenity. The development shown in the writing is believable and at a steady and slow pace, with occasional steps back for perspective. It takes on a realistic view on how River, a traumatised young woman, could potentially develop into a semi-sane individual of the Serenity crew.
It should be noted that the story turns into a slow burning romantic drama and despite the potential of turning it into an over the top story that deviates from the canon material into something wholly unrecognisable, it is handled carefully. The characters remain true throughout and despite the fact that the River/Mal pairing is not one I would have imagined, the author makes it believable in the spin-off universe that has been created for that particular interpretation of the characters.
The story was solid and kept true to itself through the whole process; the added bonus of high quality writing made it a pleasure to read. It handled the subject matter maturely and respected the original material from the series, thus becoming one of few fan fictions that I could imagine going back to at a later date and re-reading.
Gossip - Mass Effect
The vignette based off the game Mass Effect from BioWare focuses on one of the NPC characters that the game does not explore as much as others. Joker is the pilot of the spaceship Normandy, the vessel of the main character of the game, Shepard. The author offers up a representation of what might have gone through Joker’s head during the game, with a notable weight on the fact that Joker controls the ship in its entirety as well as the intercom system, capable of hearing most things said on the vessel. The concept itself is original, as I’ve not come across something like that before, the execution isn’t outright bad, but it seems halting at times, some formulations and representations coming across as convoluted and a bit off.
Overall, it is meant as a light humorous vignette and this purpose it fulfils quite well. The tone remains joking most of the time, despite some departures into serious thought on Joker’s part, especially when it comes to Shepard, but I suspect this is merely a product of the authors own interpretation of Shepard. It would have been better written in a more general way, allowing readers to insert their own interpretation of Shepard rather than the author inserting her own. The ending could have been done better, the decidedly dramatic ending note we could have done without, and I do believe Joker’s infatuation with Shepard in this vignette is a departure from the true character as he was represented in the game.
Tracers - Mass Effect
Another vignette from Mass Effect, this one is focused on Kaidan Alenko and his struggles with the migraines caused by the L2 biotic implant. In style it is well done, the writing is of a high quality and the character true to form. The use of flashbacks as Kaidan suffers through one of his migraine episodes gives a feel of the fragmented state of his mind when the L2 implant flares up. The text goes to great effort to create the atmosphere of his migraine and his view on the world around him as he suffers through them. His reaction to the migraine, both inwardly and outwardly, remains true to the characters personality in the game, with the added bonus of Shepard being vague enough for anyone to insert their own female version of her into the story if they so wished.
The flashbacks in particular are of note, as they bring up events in Kaidan’s history that show up through conversation with him in the game. The use of canon material in them gives it a more realistic edge and gives the reader a greater understanding of the whole issue if they went through the effort of learning those particular details from Kaidan during gameplay. The end does carry an overly dramatic twinge to it, but considering Kaidan’s flashbacks it is warranted and suitable where it is placed.
Cast Stones at Dragons - Supernatural
This fan fiction based off the end of the third season of the TV show Supernatural deals with what Sam Winchester does after his brother is dragged off to Hell. The story begins more than a decade after the event, from Sam’s point-of-view as he is seen revising a book he has written. From this beginning the scene is set, showing how Sam has changed since the end of the third season and how he hasn’t changed. The atmosphere slowly develops as the story unfolds, the author weaving a fascinating story around how Sam coped with his brother’s death. The use of a well-known trope, Chekhov’s gun, is a nice treat for those familiar with the series. The vague references to an element of the Supernatural canon will jog the thoughts of a knowledgeable reader and the slow reveal is extremely satisfying.
The style of writing is easy to follow and engaging, fitting with the chosen character point of view and the manner that the story is unfolding. When the conclusion finally arrives it is not a surprise, but it is no less satisfying as it fits into what Sam as a character could have potentially done. In some ways the elements weave into something equally moving and painful, as there are subtle differences from the inspiration and the end result of Sam’s actions.
Good Basis for a Friendship - Star Wars
This vignette from Star Wars focuses on Wes Janson and Derek “Hobbie” Klivian from Rogue Squadron when they were Red Squadron. It has the premise of a drinking party after the Death Star trench run, remembering the pilots lost during that battle. It depicts a conversation between two of the aforementioned pilots before they became the friends they are in the X-Wing books and comics, essentially laying down the foundation bricks for what lies in their future.
The style of writing focuses on dialogue, with a few action indicators to establish the scene between them. It uses canon events as the basis for the pilots’ thoughts, Hobbie joining the Rebel Alliance and Wes’ spot in the squadron being taken by Porkins due to sickness and his death because of this switch. The author’s way of presenting them shows a familiarity with their canon counterparts and remains true to the canon material. The writing is also of high quality and the majority of dialogue is fitting with the scene she is setting.
As someone familiar with these particular characters, I am impressed with how she depicted them and how closely they remained to the original. The premise is realistic in the setting it is presented, as the squadron throughout make a point of remembering past comrades and it remains an interesting take on how Wes and Hobbie developed into the fast friends they are represented as in canon.
Fade - Star Trek
The two-part fan fiction is based loosely off the Star Trek canon, but is set in an alternate universe where the characters are FBI agents rather than Starfleet officers. It is of note that the characterisations are of the characters from the new film rather than the original series. In this avenue we have limited knowledge as to the actual behaviours of James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy, but the author is working off the cues given in the film and the end result appeases me in the sense of realism she puts into the characters, instead of letting them fall short. It is more humorous than serious, eliciting amusement in the reader quite efficiently with the small segments of scenes the author uses.
It is of note that this is a romance fan fiction that increases at a slow boil. The slash is unsurprising considering Star Trek’s status as the grandfather of slash, but it is presented in a believable manner and the characterisation the author has chosen fits into it. The quality of the writing is high and most notably doesn’t take itself too seriously. The author’s intentions are clear, it is merely to have fun, and the fan fiction reflects this. The use of the story element of two cop partners partnering up for life is a worn one, but it works in this fiction, merely being charming rather than tedious and worn as it has the potential of being.
The chaptered fan fiction undertakes weaving a story of Marcus Wright’s life both before and after the Terminator Salvation film. Considering the subject matter, it takes on a decidedly dark and dramatic feel to it which is fitting for the character and the Terminator canon. Everything is from Marcus’ point-of-view as the reader is treated with small scenes from his life before Skynet turned him into a Terminator. This particular fiction is interesting how it shows us Marcus’ human memories in reverse, starting from his time on death row and ending with a scene of he and his brother enjoying a swim in a river.
There is very little dialogue in the beginning, the author relying on Marcus’ inner monologue to carry the story and to set down the scene, and toward the end changing to rely more on dialogue to show the differences between Kyle and Marcus in their beliefs. The order of it causes some confusion, as it isn’t linear and it takes some of the reader’s intuition to figure out if the author is handling the past or the present. The story relies heavily on the descriptive, which can either be fitting for the reader or too much depending on personal preference. Some might find issue with the characterisation of Marcus, I have too limited knowledge to really establish an opinion on the matter, but the authors interpretation is merely one of many, as Marcus as a character doesn’t get much development in the film.
It does occasionally adopt the peculiar practice of inserting random lines in brackets, which can either be interpreted as connected or unconnected with what is actually going on. This strikes me as odd, but does not remove from the experience too much. I do enjoy how the author underlines how Marcus thinks differently from the Resistance he has joined, most notably Kyle, and does insert some musing on the fact that he is no longer a human, but a Terminator.
I Was a Dad Once - Doctor Who
This fan fiction begins with a simple line that serves as the premise for the entire piece. Predictably, the line is the same as the story title. It revolves around the title character from Doctor Who, the Doctor, and his reminiscing of the past and a non-canonical child. As far as structure and spelling goes, this piece of writing is high in quality; however that is not the defining element to any piece of writing. The beginning storyline unfolds simply enough, familiar to anyone who has seen episodes of Doctor Who, with the Doctor running from some unnamed danger.
As it continues it turns iffy, turning away from the simple recipe of Doctor Who and into a barely hidden self-insert. The original character introduced seems incapable of being overly affected by the sudden unusual events and the stranger at her door. The usual tough girl recipe is used for the woman, making the Mary Sue element of her obvious. She takes the Doctor’s presence in stride, which is suspicious in any media other than the original, but the author should be given props for her dialogue and ability to keep the Doctor in character, keeping the conversations interesting and plausible for the character involved.
The largest minus for this piece of fan fiction is the Mary Sue and deviation from Doctor Who canon, as it is known that the Doctor has a daughter, but that child did not stem from a spunky American who lived in Los Angeles. The premise and original character is a definite downside, but the overall quality of writing turns a potentially tortuous experience into merely mild annoyance at the cliché elements taken into use.
Homeward Bound - Star Wars
This small vignette is focused on the relationship between Han Solo and Leia Organa at the definite end of their lives from Han’s point-of-view. It relies heavily on the Extended Universe of Star Wars, which is vastly different and far more evolved than the film canon. In this respect I cannot be certain if either of the established characters are portrayed correctly or not, as the EU is a blind spot, but the portrayal seems to carry some of their old characterisations, if aged by the years of apparent struggle the two have gone through. The piece nods to the established Star Wars canon, mentioning the death of Anakin Solo and Chewbacca, the family troubles, and Han’s shortcomings as a father and family man.
The story itself focuses heavily on the emotional aspects of what the characters are going through. Leia is sick, dying, and Han is being left behind. Creating dialogue for this is difficult, and the author should receive some recognition for managing to fashion it in an only slightly wince inducing manner. It is of note how the author proceeds to show just how far gone Leia is, depicting her as delusional and unable to recall where she is. The whole thing is aimed at the emotional state of Han and the grief that stems from his wife’s impending death.
I did feel that it did turn a bit overly dramatic as I read on, but that may perhaps only be due to the sudden appearance of Leia, now dead, as a Force spectre. The Force itself is a difficult concept for those who are not familiar with it, but the use of it in the end of this piece is familiar in the aspect of its use as a tool to connect the two even after death. That in particular is an overused effect in heavy handed emotional pieces, but it must be noted that there seems to be little else in way of closure for Han in the point of view we’re given. The vignette would be perfect if it had ended there, but when the author proceeds to depict the afterlife it becomes a bit much and the poignant scene turns into an overly sweet ending that robs it of some of its impact on the reader.
The Not Quite Love Letters - Star Wars
This interesting chaptered story, based off the Star Wars canon, shows the progress through the film through various messaging media, rather than plain writing. It focuses on Han Solo and Leia Organa and their slow developing relationship from an entirely non-canon and humorous vantage point. The style of switching point-of-views regularly, and sometimes to entirely different characters than those the fan fiction focuses on could perhaps be confusing for some, but I managed to follow it and found it highly entertaining. It doesn’t regard itself highly, so it entirely possible to forgive any irregularities in canon and it does have the added bonus of undertaking actual canon events and reflecting it through the unique style the author has adopted. The writing isn’t grade a, but most can be forgiven with the wit of the piece and the fact that it is supposed to be humorous.
The representations of the characters are a bit erratic at times; Leia in particular is shown as more inexperienced than she actually is, with Han being less of the learned criminal that he has been established as in both the film canon and extended universe canon. However, as it is presented as a piece that regularly makes fun of itself, these irregularities can be forgiven for the sake of the enjoyment it offers.
Never Go Back - Firefly
The 26-chaptered story of Never Go Back, continuing the story of the crew of the Serenity after the motion picture of the same name, is told from the point-of-view of the character River. It depicts her struggles going from a science experience of the government and into the guise of a not-quite ordinary girl turning into a young woman and those around her unable to grasp the concept. The representation of River, from her Reader abilities to her convoluted mental processes, is spot on for the character from the series Firefly and the motion picture Serenity. The development shown in the writing is believable and at a steady and slow pace, with occasional steps back for perspective. It takes on a realistic view on how River, a traumatised young woman, could potentially develop into a semi-sane individual of the Serenity crew.
It should be noted that the story turns into a slow burning romantic drama and despite the potential of turning it into an over the top story that deviates from the canon material into something wholly unrecognisable, it is handled carefully. The characters remain true throughout and despite the fact that the River/Mal pairing is not one I would have imagined, the author makes it believable in the spin-off universe that has been created for that particular interpretation of the characters.
The story was solid and kept true to itself through the whole process; the added bonus of high quality writing made it a pleasure to read. It handled the subject matter maturely and respected the original material from the series, thus becoming one of few fan fictions that I could imagine going back to at a later date and re-reading.
Gossip - Mass Effect
The vignette based off the game Mass Effect from BioWare focuses on one of the NPC characters that the game does not explore as much as others. Joker is the pilot of the spaceship Normandy, the vessel of the main character of the game, Shepard. The author offers up a representation of what might have gone through Joker’s head during the game, with a notable weight on the fact that Joker controls the ship in its entirety as well as the intercom system, capable of hearing most things said on the vessel. The concept itself is original, as I’ve not come across something like that before, the execution isn’t outright bad, but it seems halting at times, some formulations and representations coming across as convoluted and a bit off.
Overall, it is meant as a light humorous vignette and this purpose it fulfils quite well. The tone remains joking most of the time, despite some departures into serious thought on Joker’s part, especially when it comes to Shepard, but I suspect this is merely a product of the authors own interpretation of Shepard. It would have been better written in a more general way, allowing readers to insert their own interpretation of Shepard rather than the author inserting her own. The ending could have been done better, the decidedly dramatic ending note we could have done without, and I do believe Joker’s infatuation with Shepard in this vignette is a departure from the true character as he was represented in the game.
Tracers - Mass Effect
Another vignette from Mass Effect, this one is focused on Kaidan Alenko and his struggles with the migraines caused by the L2 biotic implant. In style it is well done, the writing is of a high quality and the character true to form. The use of flashbacks as Kaidan suffers through one of his migraine episodes gives a feel of the fragmented state of his mind when the L2 implant flares up. The text goes to great effort to create the atmosphere of his migraine and his view on the world around him as he suffers through them. His reaction to the migraine, both inwardly and outwardly, remains true to the characters personality in the game, with the added bonus of Shepard being vague enough for anyone to insert their own female version of her into the story if they so wished.
The flashbacks in particular are of note, as they bring up events in Kaidan’s history that show up through conversation with him in the game. The use of canon material in them gives it a more realistic edge and gives the reader a greater understanding of the whole issue if they went through the effort of learning those particular details from Kaidan during gameplay. The end does carry an overly dramatic twinge to it, but considering Kaidan’s flashbacks it is warranted and suitable where it is placed.
Cast Stones at Dragons - Supernatural
This fan fiction based off the end of the third season of the TV show Supernatural deals with what Sam Winchester does after his brother is dragged off to Hell. The story begins more than a decade after the event, from Sam’s point-of-view as he is seen revising a book he has written. From this beginning the scene is set, showing how Sam has changed since the end of the third season and how he hasn’t changed. The atmosphere slowly develops as the story unfolds, the author weaving a fascinating story around how Sam coped with his brother’s death. The use of a well-known trope, Chekhov’s gun, is a nice treat for those familiar with the series. The vague references to an element of the Supernatural canon will jog the thoughts of a knowledgeable reader and the slow reveal is extremely satisfying.
The style of writing is easy to follow and engaging, fitting with the chosen character point of view and the manner that the story is unfolding. When the conclusion finally arrives it is not a surprise, but it is no less satisfying as it fits into what Sam as a character could have potentially done. In some ways the elements weave into something equally moving and painful, as there are subtle differences from the inspiration and the end result of Sam’s actions.
Good Basis for a Friendship - Star Wars
This vignette from Star Wars focuses on Wes Janson and Derek “Hobbie” Klivian from Rogue Squadron when they were Red Squadron. It has the premise of a drinking party after the Death Star trench run, remembering the pilots lost during that battle. It depicts a conversation between two of the aforementioned pilots before they became the friends they are in the X-Wing books and comics, essentially laying down the foundation bricks for what lies in their future.
The style of writing focuses on dialogue, with a few action indicators to establish the scene between them. It uses canon events as the basis for the pilots’ thoughts, Hobbie joining the Rebel Alliance and Wes’ spot in the squadron being taken by Porkins due to sickness and his death because of this switch. The author’s way of presenting them shows a familiarity with their canon counterparts and remains true to the canon material. The writing is also of high quality and the majority of dialogue is fitting with the scene she is setting.
As someone familiar with these particular characters, I am impressed with how she depicted them and how closely they remained to the original. The premise is realistic in the setting it is presented, as the squadron throughout make a point of remembering past comrades and it remains an interesting take on how Wes and Hobbie developed into the fast friends they are represented as in canon.
Fade - Star Trek
The two-part fan fiction is based loosely off the Star Trek canon, but is set in an alternate universe where the characters are FBI agents rather than Starfleet officers. It is of note that the characterisations are of the characters from the new film rather than the original series. In this avenue we have limited knowledge as to the actual behaviours of James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy, but the author is working off the cues given in the film and the end result appeases me in the sense of realism she puts into the characters, instead of letting them fall short. It is more humorous than serious, eliciting amusement in the reader quite efficiently with the small segments of scenes the author uses.
It is of note that this is a romance fan fiction that increases at a slow boil. The slash is unsurprising considering Star Trek’s status as the grandfather of slash, but it is presented in a believable manner and the characterisation the author has chosen fits into it. The quality of the writing is high and most notably doesn’t take itself too seriously. The author’s intentions are clear, it is merely to have fun, and the fan fiction reflects this. The use of the story element of two cop partners partnering up for life is a worn one, but it works in this fiction, merely being charming rather than tedious and worn as it has the potential of being.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Nat's Fan Fic reviews
Grey's Anatomy - Make It Without You
This was one of the best fan fictions I read. It was for a possible flashback episode of Grey’s Anatomy, describing the initial meeting of Dr Torres and Dr Robbins. Each Chapter or Part begins with a song lyric, which I think was quite effective, almost giving an indication as to the theme of the piece. I preferred that the text wasn’t written as a script either, but more of a narrative.
How I Met Your Mother - One Would Call It Cheating
This text was a possible episode for How I Met Your Mother mainly involving two of the main characters Ted and Barney. In the actual show they are both heterosexual males, but in this fan fiction episode they are portrayed as being in love with each other. I like how opposite the two are, and how unexpected. I also think it’s interesting how the author seems to have taken inspiration from real life, as the actor who portrays Barney is actually gay – this might be an easy way to come up with a theme, use real life experiences.
How I Met Your Mother - Choices
This fiction is a possible storyline for How I Met Your Mother involving Robin and Barney.Despite this being a relatively short piece of fan fiction, it contains an entire storyline worth of information. It starts as the two characters dealing with one situation but by the end of the piece they are much older and are looking at that problem with reflective hindsight. I’m not sure this works that well as a storyline. I think it would have been better to focus on the one dilemma for the episode, and not go to unnecessary lengths to tie the story up over the lifetime.
How I Met Your Mother - Box Full o Honey
I found this fan fiction very interesting as although it was focusing on two characters from How I Met Your Mother, the line between trying to be true to the characters as they already are, and trying to create characters that fit into your storyline, was blurred, and the characters ended up sounding out of context and fake. It was almost as if the author changed it too much, or not enough. Dialogue that the characters were given was off-putting and ended up sounding out of place.
Sex and the City - Big Changes
This fan fiction is a possible episode of Sex and The City. I thought the use of different points of view within the chapters was very effective, it would be a much simpler way to structure a narrative in that style, but unsure how it would work when actually produced on screen. There were also some spelling and flow issues with this piece, which made it hard to follow at times.
I enjoyed the narrative style of this Friends storyline involving Chandler and Rachel. Rather than just a mechanical sounding film script, it tells the story in a more descriptive way. I like how the ff reads this way and could work as a novel or short story instead of purely a filmed episode.
Sex and the City - Death, Sex and New York
This piece deals mainly with the characters of SATC dealing with the loss of Samantha. The writer attempts to make the storyline sound original, but this is tainted by their choice of dialogue and actions, that are exactly as the original writers have already used. There is a lack of originality in this area and I found that this affected my overall interest in the story. I think it would be good to make sure not to use these elements directly from the original piece, but to elaborate on the characters in further ways.
Sex and the City - You've Got Me
This piece could almost be described as a crossover fan fiction between SATC and You’ve Got Mail (Ephron, 1998). It involves Carrie and Big having an argument. There are significant references to ‘You’ve Got Mail’ within the character’s dialogue. It was kind of tacky to begin with and cliché but the reference was tied up nicely at the end with a lighter tone, and not so obvious.Adding more to the subtext of the narrative, rather than making the link painfully apparent.
Sex and the City - I'll Think Of A Reason Later
This ff is a re-write of an episode of SATC which the author didn’t enjoy the original. I especially liked the reference to the original episode, as the author used dialogue that Carrie uses all the time (“couldn't help but wonder…”). This reads more like a narrative again, rather than a script, as it gives internal monologue as well as storyline encased in the dialogue. Again, I had a problem with the unoriginality of some of the choices in language, and the cliffhanger ending wasn’t nearly as interesting as it could have been.
The Big Bang Theory - The Drabble Adhesion
This ff of The Big Bang Theory is a series of chapters (drabble) that individually are very intriguing, but as a whole, are not cohesive and end up being quite confusing when collected as one episode. Certain chapters would be fantastic if they were formed into an episode worth of flowing content. The history of the characters is accurate to what has aired so far in the series, and the author focuses mainly on a relationship between Penny and Sheldon. A lot of the ff I read dealt with unlikely characters sharing some sort of unexpected or forbidden relationship.
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