The Rec Center #185
Hi folks! This week we have fix-it fic recs, Good Omens fanart (yes, the Good Omens train is still going strong), an article about TikTok stars, and more. P.S. Pour one out for Elizabeth, who sent this newsletter in the midst of a very busy week at SDCC! — Gav
new stuff
“TikTok Stars Are Preparing to Take Over the Internet” by Taylor Lorenz at The Atlantic
Fantastic reporting about TikTok’s very large presence at this year’s VidCon, a convention that has historically focused on YouTube.
“Veronica Mars season 4 is a triumphant return to form” by Gav at The Daily Dot
Good news for Veronica Mars fans: The new revival is seriously great, without succumbing to nostalgia. (This review is spoiler-free.)
older stuff
“You’re Gonna Love This Franchise” by Elizabeth at Fansplaining
If you’re curious why Elizabeth finds SDCC fascinating, here’s her dispatch on corporate media and fandom from last year’s Comic-Con.
tumblr & beyond
Klimt-inspired Aziraphale/Crownely fanart by Nathengyn
“actually the divide between what is and is not dr who canon is very straightforward.”
Same energy.
“... don’t look up Sauron on AO3.”
This kid’s “Youtuber apology” cosplay is so, so good.
Love the strong ~school science fair~ vibe of these photos of SDCC circa 1985.
In case you missed it, there’s now a full-length trailer for the BBC’s new adaptation of His Dark Materials!
fanfiction
Fix-its! One of fanfiction’s true strengths. Thank you, as always, to our guest reccers. — Elizabeth
“Death and Passage” by Alona. 13K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Tortall (Song of the Lioness); Ship: Gen, canon background pairings
Recced by: Chestnut_filly
Backstory: Song of the Lioness follows Alanna, the first lady knight in the semi-feudal realm of Tortall in several hundred years. She has a lovely story, but the star of this fic is her twin brother, Thom, the most powerful and foolish sorcerer of the age.
Rec: This is a really fantastic fix-it fic in which Thom (SPOILER) does NOT die. It explores what his survival would really mean politically and emotionally, and with good grace and humor all the way through. It ends on a particularly lovely note!
Content warnings: Depression, references to an abusive relationship
“The Professor’s Wife” by foolish_mortal. 56K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: xxxholic; Ship: Doumeki Shizuka/Kimihiro Watauki
Recced by: joethecat
Backstory: xxxholic is a manga by CLAMP about Watanuki’s powers to see supernatural beings that he makes a contract with a witch to get rid of said powers.
Rec: A bittersweet but ultimately amusing story of an alternate version of the manga’s ending. Incredibly sweet in its own way, this fic does and says many things the manga never dared to do.
Content warnings: N/A
“Lay down your sweet and weary head” by elenothar. 125K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: The Hobbit; Ship: Thorin/Bilbo
Recced by: sainatsukino
Backstory: This ship didn’t really exist before the hobbits movies came out, but the portrayal of these characters on screen had such a delicious tension and chemistry that it’s impossible not to ship them.
Rec: Time travel fics are many in the hobbit fandom, but usually it’s Biblo who goes back in time to either relive the quest or deal with the ring or both. Here, it’s Thorin who returns pre-dragon, and the story is amazingly written
Content warnings: N/A
“Highway To Hell” by MeganBStrange. 50K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy; Ships: Gen
Recced by: Lauren
Backstory: This is an AU where Yondu goes back in time after dying at the end of GOTG2 and gets a chance to fix things in regards to Ego’s children.
Rec: I loved Yondu’s character in both movies and the author does a great job writing for him. It’s interesting to see the character try to grow and be a better “father.”
Content warning: Violence
“Baby” by aliciameade. 96K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: A Simple Favor; Ship: Emily Nelson/Stephanie Smothers
Recced by: Rachel
Backstory: A fix-it following Emily & Stephanie’s relationship after the kiss scene in the movie.
Rec: Some of the best smut ever, plus the best fic in the fandom. Also, this author is really good at slow burn and soft moments.
Content warning: Cheating (all instances of this pairing are gonna be cheating)
“Decade and One (and Many More)” by lalaietha. 7K words over 4 works, rated Gen/Teen.
Fandom: Harry Potter; Ship: Gen
Recced by: anon
Backstory: An AU in which Lily Evans Potter survives That Night, raises her son, reconciles with her sister, and is an actual person, as opposed to a tragic cardboard cutout.
Rec: This was the first series that came to mind when I saw the call for series recommendations. When I first read this, when it was first published (in the LiveJournal years...), I felt like the idea of Lily’s life stretching out full and uninterrupted filled a hole in my heart I’d never known was there.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
ONE MORE SHAMELESS PLUG AND YOU WILL BE FREE! SDCC folks, please join me:
Tonight (Friday): Fansplaining’s very first panel! “Don’t Dream It’s Over: What Fandoms Do When Long-Running Stories End.”
7 pm at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom 12 & 13
Tomorrow (Saturday): Fansplaining’s meetup! At the Marriott Marquis pool bar from 6 p.m. on. The space is large and fully accessible. Stop by—we’ll be there all night!
— Elizabeth
Have a favorite one-off rec? Please send it our way! We’ll use it in a future list. Other fanworks—comics, vids, zines, 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.
If you liked this, please share it with your friends! https://thereccenter.substack.com/. And find us on social media: Gav (twitter/tumblr) & Elizabeth (twitter/tumblr)