The Rec Center #122
Hi folks! This week we have a smattering of post-Infinity War post-mortem, along with a new fandom-influenced YA novel, our second batch of pre-AO3 fanfic recs, and more. — Gav
new stuff
“‘Riverdale’ Writer Britta Lundin on How Fan Fiction Has Made TV More Diverse” by Michael Waters at The Hollywood Reporter
For more on Ship It, Britta Lundin’s new fandom novel, see the final thought! In this conversation, she talks from both sides of the fan/creator divide about queer fanfiction, “bury your gays,” and more.
“Dominance By Korean Acts On Billboard's Social 50 Chart Reflects Power Of K-Pop Fans” and “Tumblr Incorporates K-Pop Into General Music Rankings In Nod To Globalized Audiences” by Tamar Herman at Forbes
A pair of articles about the growing power of Kpop fandom in both Western media and on a global scale—and how social media sites, especially Tumblr, are reflecting Kpop’s rise.
A PSA from AO3: people have been receiving messages on Tumblr from “AO3 consultants” telling them they’ve been reported for abuse and need to take their fanworks down. This is *not* coming from AO3, which only contacts users via email, and each message about abuse will be specific and signed by a volunteer. Spread the word!
older stuff
“Social justice, shipping, and ideology: when fandom becomes a crusade, things get ugly” by Aja Romano at Vox
“Fans merely rooting for their favorite characters to get together has somehow evolved into ideological warfare.”
tumblr & beyond
Shape of Water fanart by foxtroupe
“keep getting banned from the mario wiki for editing myself in as luigi’s gf”
“Lot’s wife dies in Infinity War.”
“Bikini Bottom has a universal basic income”
“whatever you do, definitely don't think about m'baku pranking bucky by telling him all about fake jabari customs”
fanfiction
This week we have round 2 of pre-AO3 fic—stuff that hasn’t been migrated to the archive. Our first list is here. Thank you to everyone who sent in a rec, and we’ve got a few more in our rec bank, so please, send more so we can do another list! — Elizabeth
“Son Is on a Midnight Run Like DeNiro” by Hackthis. 38K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Southland; Ship: Cooper/Ben
Recced by: The Harlot Quinn
Backstory: There is so little Southland fic out there, it’s almost a crime that one of the best longfics in this very tiny fandom exists only in four separate chapters on a dead livejournal (as far as I know).
Rec: This is super hot, super porny, and super realistic when it comes to an older guy and a much younger one, both with Issues of their own, making it work...eventually.
Content warning: Typical cop-show violence
“Even the Dragon King’s Temple Floods” by Kryal. 213K words, rated Teen.
Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender / Stargate: SG-1; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Effex
Backstory: Avatar: TLA is an amazing cartoon about a group of kids, some with elemental martial arts powers, and their journey to save their world from an evil emperor. Stargate: SG-1 is a sci-fi show about a secret military organisation that explores the galaxy and protects Earth from aliens. A crossover between the two makes no sense, but here we are.
Rec: It takes work to meld such different canons together (and this is a full crossover, not an AU) and the author does a great job, building up detail in both worlds until they can meet in the middle. Also it’s a long, fun sci-fi story featuring two of my favorite Avatar characters—Toph and Zuko finally getting that life changing field trip.
Content warnings: Levels of violence are more Stargate then Avatar
“The Roots of the Ivy” by Aranel Took. 224K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Lord of the Rings; Ships: Merry/Éowyn, Pippin/OFC
Recced by: justanxietythings
Backstory: The story of Ivy Brandybuck, daughter of Merry and Éowyn. An Alternate Universe story.
Rec: This is an INSANE epic. It’s one of the only LOTR fics I return to regularly.
Content warnings: Underage sex (IIRC—sorry, I haven’t reread it in awhile.)
“Fallen” by Confused Knight. 425K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Protector of the Small (Tortall); Ship: ultimately Kel/Dom but mostly gen
Recced by: Marina
Backstory: This is a complete retelling of Lady Knight, where Kel was kicked out of Page training after her probationary year and still managed to get involved in the Scanran war.
Rec: It’s so long and multifaceted, and yet still true to the character of Kel despite a completely different plot, setting and support characters.
Content warnings: Rape; it’s been a long time since I read it so there may be other ones that I can’t remember
“A Supermarket in California” by taffetablue. 7.6K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis; Ship: John/Rodney
Recced by: anon
Backstory: John inherits his great uncle’s grocery in Berkeley, flips a coin and decides to keep it. Eventually he wins over Rodney with games of prime/not prime, and high quality coffee.
Rec: It feels like a love story to the setting, as much as it is a love story between the characters, and I am always weak for that.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
~*~FANDOM YA NOVEL ALERT~*~ This week saw the publication of Ship It, the debut novel from Riverdale writer Britta Lundin.
I’ve plugged Britta’s Tumblr before as a really fantastic resource for anyone looking to make the leap from fan to pro (while still trying to keep a foot on both sides of that divide). Once again, are strongly encouraged to follow her. :-) But you are even more strongly encouraged to buy or check out Ship It, which came out on Tuesday and which I totally, totally loved. I enumerated a few of the reasons here, and we spoke to Britta at length on the most recent episode of Fansplaining! — Elizabeth
Have a favorite one-off rec? Please send it our way! We’ll use it in a future list. Other fanworks—comics, vids, etc—are strongly encouraged as well. And if you have any interest in doing an entire rec list, explainer, or ship manifesto, please get in touch! elizabethandgav at gmail dot com.
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