The Rec Center #189
Hello all! Greetings at the end of an exhausting week of explaining to people who last logged onto the site in 2013 that yes, Tumblr still exists! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We have our usual mix of TUMBLR posts lol, some coverage on the platform’s sale, and a grab-bag of multi-fandom fics, including possibly our first self-insert rec in nearly four years of newsletters?? (For the record, more are welcome!) Plus Gav’s Worldcon schedule—if you’re in Dublin this weekend, please attend all her panels on my behalf. <3 — Elizabeth
new stuff
“Verizon is selling Tumblr to Wordpress’ owner” by Julia Alexander at The Verge
In case you missed it, Tumblr got sold again, this time for the impressively low price of $3 million. But after years of mega-corporate shuffling, the new owner, Automattic, is a fairly big change of direction. If you’re a Tumblr user, we recommend this interview (including both audio and a full transcript) with Automattic’s CEO, Matt Mullenweg, about his plans for the site.
“How aggressively cute toys for adults became a $686 million business” by Amelia Tait at Vox
A look at the terrifyingly successful business behind Funko Pops.
“‘Be More Chill’ Represents the Positive Power of Fandom Gone Right” by Caroline Cao at Slashflim
“I found myself among the unsuspecting listeners swept into the unpredictable Internet algorithms that introduced Be More Chill to a burgeoning fanbase two years after the show supposedly died in obscurity after a regional month-long run.”
older stuff
“Why Archive of Our Own’s Surprise Hugo Nomination Is Such a Big Deal” by Casey Fiesler at Slate
This weekend we’ll be rooting for, amongst other nominees, the AO3 to win the Hugo for “Best Related Work.” This piece digs into all the things the nomination encompasses, from the code to the fic readers and writers.
tumblr & beyond
“Everybody go tf home I have officially found a worse name for eyes than ‘orbs’.”
Please enjoy this very hardcore Pokemon TikTok.
Will someone please write this Doctor Who/Donna fanfic? ;__;
“sir this is my emotional support canon divergence”
Map fans! This awesome project from geography students at the University of British Columbia uses geographic information system techniques to figure out if Frodo took the best route from the Shire to Mordor.
fanfiction
A grab-bag of multi-fandom fic this week! Thank you very much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“Collected Bones of All Kinds” by Hansbekhart. 70K words over 3 works, Mature to Explicit.
Fandom: Captain America (MCU); Ship: Steve/Bucky
Recced by: Latte
Backstory: Another take on post-The Winter Soldier, but seen from rotating POVs of Bucky, Sam, and Steve at different points in time.
Rec: There are a lot of post-TWS stories in the wild, but I hold this as one of my dearest because this one is more of an attempt to dissect Captain America as a historical symbol and how Sam and Steve perceive it from their different backgrounds. It is also hilarious at times.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Realms of the Immortals” by nirejseki. 57K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: The Immortals - Tamora Pierce; Ship: Rikash Moonsword/Veralidaine Sarrasri
Recced by: Calanthe
Backstory: Rikash knew he was signing up for a lot when he became Lord of the Stone Tree Stormwing nation—but teaming up with the Stormwing Killer, Veralidaine Sarrasri?
Rec: An incredible Immortals AU and alternate take on Realms of the Gods in which a young Rikash and his Stormwing squad team up with an older Daine to take on the forces of chaos—and have an epic road trip along the way.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Most Dangerous Game” by JocelynTorrent. 161K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Dragon Age; Ship: Briala/Celine I
Recced by: anon
Backstory: The Empress of Orlais, Celine I, and her erstwhile elven chambermaid/spy Briala (The Empress with an Elf? Quel scandale!) had a torrid and illicit affair until Briala decided to raze an Elven community to score political points. Fate and the Inquisition have conspired to bring them back together. Can they reconcile?
Rec: Orlais is pretty much Louis XIV France, and the intrigue and scandal portrayed in this fic are off the charts. Both Briala and Celine are strong political figures and strong personalities, and the hurt and betrayal and power imbalance are keenly felt.
Content warnings: N/A
“Reconstruction Site” by disco_vendetta. 8K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Pacific Rim; Ship: Mako Mori/Raleigh Becket
Recced by: Galia
Backstory: This fic explores the side-effects of drifting, and how it turns two different people into one person with two bodies, and the beauty that blossoms from being completely, entirely understood.
Rec: disco_vendetta paints such a simple but gorgeous picture of how it feels to be entwined with another person, and how to create a life that works for both of you
Content warnings: N/A
“Letters from the Northern Continent” by thehoyden. 8K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Ship: Julian Bashir/Elim Garak
Recced by: Holland
Backstory: After the end of DS9, Garak is on Cardassia, trying to rebuild his home. On the other side of the planet, Julian is trying to help heal the survivors of the war. But that’s not really the reason he came....
Rec: It is true to canon feelings, and really builds the emotions behind Julian’s decision but also how deep his relationship is with Garak. The titular novel is just another manifestation of the slow burn between these two, which comes to a perfect satisfaction.
Content warnings: N/A
“Boy” by zoedinovi. 10K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Adam Driver, Kylo Ren (Girls/Star Wars); Ship: Adam Driver/Reader
Recced by: kfan
Backstory: Adam Driver RPF—essentially an imagine where YOU have a flirtatious & sexy adventure with Adam Driver.
Rec: I send this to anyone who mentions finding Adam Driver attractive. I didn’t get it until I read this story, which is a series of short vignettes about meeting & getting seduced by Adam Driver. It’s both funny (ridiculous Star Wars metaphors) and hot.
Content warnings: Light bdsm
FINAL THOUGHT
I’m at Worldcon in Dublin this weekend! You can find me on four panels—two on Friday, and two on Sunday. My schedule is here, featuring panels on queer comics, superhero costumes, shipping fandom, and pop culture’s portrayal of genius. See you there! — Gav
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)