The Rec Center #188
Hello all! This week we have multifandom kidfic recs, an article about the language of online fandom, some gorgeous retro Killing Eve fanart, and more. — Gav
new stuff
“You Did the Thing: A conversation with Gretchen McCulloch about the language of fandom” by Elizabeth at Fansplaining
Whether or not you’ve had a chance to read Gretchen’s book about the online linguistics, Because Internet, this deep dive (on memes, AO3 comments, the language of fanfic, and fan/brand interaction) is likely v relevant to Rec Center readers’ interests.
“Victims, Families and America’s Thirst for True-Crime Stories” by Britt Peterson at The Washington Post
“For Bill Thomas, his sister Cathy’s murder is a deeply personal tragedy. For millions of true-crime fans, it’s entertainment.” A longread on the ~fraught dynamics~ of the Oxygen network’s third-annual CrimeCon.
“Your favorite show will soon be canceled” by Gav at the Daily Dot
In the wake of various fan-run renewal campaigns for shows like One Day At A Time and Sense8, here’s a look at what’s really going on at Netflix.
older stuff
“A Linguist Explains the Grammar of Shipping” by Gretchen McCulloch at The Toast
“Blends and the Phonology/Orthography Interface”—if you’re after more fandom linguistics, revisit this classic piece about smushed ship names.
tumblr & beyond
1960s film poster fanart for Killing Eve by amelia h
“Fun fact: the word ‘glomp’ came from a hugging sound effect from Viz’s English translation of Ranma 1/2.”
“getting into a series years too late”
“Comedy peaked when the Star Trek gang landed the cloaked Klingon ship.”
Harry Potter fandom is the reigning champion of “death of the author.”
Some deep history here from the birth of Naruto fanfic.
fanfiction
Three and a half years of this newsletter, and we’ve never done a kidfic list. I’m aware this trope can be polarizing, but a ton of people love it, so if you’re in that group, it’s your week! :-) Thank you, as always, to our guest reccers. — Elizabeth
“Secrets” by Vorabiza. 395K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Harry Potter; Ship: Harry/Draco
Recced by: SpiderLadyCEO
Backstory: This fic is set after the sixth book, and completely replaces the seventh HP book. Draco shows up at the Durselys with a baby that he needs Harry to help him protect.
Rec: It really is one of those rare fics where there’s everything you ever wanted—kids! pets! supportive adults! fashion! smut! good friends! without ever overwhelming the reader or feeling pointless. It’s my perfect end to the HP franchise.
Content warnings: Canon levels of violence
“College First” by kurushi. 10K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Addams Family; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Gryvon
Backstory: Wednesday struggles to feel comfortable with her identity as an Addams and a mother, while living in a world that is far too normal.
Rec: It’s amazing seeing a grown up Wednesday Addams, similar to the amazing YouTube series Adult Wednesday Addams.
Content warnings: N/A
“Ballots and Bows” by electric_eel. 121K words (WIP), rated Teen.
Fandom: West Wing; Ship: Josh/Donna
Recced by: Lydia
Backstory: Josh has a kid from a one-night stand during the first campaign. It’s a canon rewrite including this one small fact.
Rec: I don’t usually do kidfic, and I don’t usually do WIPs, but this story is so good!! Has amazing Josh/Donna pining and a perfect read on their characters in the early seasons, plus an amazing characterization of Josh’s mom.
Content warnings: N/A
“At Least There’s The Football” by Sheffiesharpe. 192K words over 15 works, rated Gen to Explicit.
Fandom: BBC Sherlock; Ships: Mycroft/Lestrade, Sherlock/John
Recced by: galvelociraptor
Backstory: A lovely domestic story in which Greg Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes run into each other and bond over football (and Sherlock shenanigans). Mycroft learns how to be in a relationship and Lestrade learns how to love a Holmes.
Rec: Domestic kid!fic (Lestrade has nieces) that doesn’t rely on the canon (the Sherlock BBC stuff is mostly window dressing). Lestrade loves punk rock and cooking, Mystrade falls in love with Lestrade, and they both love football.
Content warnings: N/A
“Nanny Knows Best” by DictionaryWrites. 17K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Good Omens (TV); Ships: Gen, Aziraphale/Crowley
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: Take place during the show, when Crowley & Aziraphale were undercover as a nanny and a gardner while helping to raise Warlock, a child they wrongfully believed was the antichrist.
Rec: Good Omens TV fandom is doing some really interesting stuff with the idea of Aziraphale and (especially) Crowley as genderfluid beings. This fic sees Crowley deal with workplace sexism while presenting as female, and forming a parental relationship with Warlock. There’s also a sequel in the works about Warlock being reunited with his nanny after the apocalypse.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
A correction from last week’s Guardian explainer by Clever Manka: this post has the correct working link to the subtitles. Apologies for the error! — 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.
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