The Rec Center #251
Hi folks! This week we’ve an article about livestreamed fan events, a post about Neopets (an old fave!), multifandom fic recs about immortal characters, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“Fandom 2.0: Reinventing And Re-Energizing The Fan Experience On The Live-Stream Stage” by Cathy Applefeld Olson at Forbes
On the business of online events—specifically concerts—in pandemic times, and the corresponding fan-creator relationships.
“In Japan, ‘Theater for the People’ Makes Fandom a Part of the Show” by Will Stewart at Atlas Obscura
“The constantly evolving form of taishū engeki bends both gender and genre.”
“How Neopets Spawned a Generation of Coders, Artists, and Writers” by Jessica Ramos at Nerdist
If you learned the basics of web design via Neopets, you are not alone.
older stuff
“The woman who looks after the decade-old shrine to a fictional sci-fi character in Cardiff Bay” by Anna Lewis at Wales Online
This week saw the anniversary of the premiere of Torchwood, so in honor of that—and our immortal-character rec list—an interview with the official caretaker of Ianto’s shrine on the Mermaid Quay, which Elizabeth has visited...multiple times.
tumblr & beyond
Elaine Benes fanart by Brianna Ashby
“no offense but like... why are people obsessed with king kong and godzilla?”
There’s an ongoing WIP amnesty fest on AO3, ending on Oct. 31!
TREASURING star trek: DS9 fandom’s collective decision that Cardassians have tails now.
A bountiful list of AU concept suggestions!
are we all aware of the canon lesbian goth muppet
fanfiction
Last week we had “older characters” as defined by the natural human lifespan; this week we have supernaturally older characters—immortals, or characters who just live for an extremely long time. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in a rec! — Elizabeth
“Bakes to Die For” by Longpig. 6.2K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: The Great British Bake Off; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Galia
Backstory: An old woman challenges death to the ultimate challenge for her soul: the bake-off!
Rec: It’s written as a script, and it’s INCREDIBLY accurate to the speaking styles of each of the hosts and judges of GBBO! It’s also very funny—like, VERY funny.
Content warnings: N/A
“Planning Permission” by Blythely, Circa Tigana. 153K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Good Omens; Ship: Aziraphale/Crowley
Recced by: Lazulus
Backstory: A book and TV adaptation where an angel and a demon work together to try and stop the end of the world and hijinks ensue. The fandom sees it a little differently.
Rec: Aziraphale and Crowley have known each other forever [literally] but is their relationship as straightforward as Aziraphale believes, or is he missing something? A long, lush story where every thread, woven beautifully throughout, comes together at the end in a very satisfying way. Blythe and Circe’s Crowley is a particularly wonderful being, which alone should be a reason to recommend reading the story, let alone the fantastic writing, delightful supporting characters and thoroughly gripping plotting.
Content warnings: N/A
“Portio mea (Thou art my portion)” by miss_pryss. 5K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Only Lovers Left Alive; Ship: Adam/Eve
Recced by: Orangistae
Backstory: Prequel fic of how the vampiric lovers Adam and Eve first met. An already ancient Eve is enjoying the printing boom in Renaissance England when she comes across a recently turned young man.
Rec: This story gives a lovely and convincing snapshot of the two characters’ personalities and attitudes towards life. There’s some great low-key humour in Eve’s bemusement with humanity and manipulation of social norms, and her instant fondness for gloomy, brooding Adam is very sweet and endearing.
Content warning: Reference to attempted suicide
“fuck it, i love you” by SummerFrost. 94K words over 5 works, rated Mature/Explicit.
Fandom: Lucifer (TV); Ships: Dan Espinoza/Lucifer Mornigstar, Dan Espinoza/Lucifer Mornigstar/Chloe Decker
Recced by: alasse
Backstory: Lucifer is a show (based on a comic) wherein the Devil gets bored of running Hell and retires to LA, where after running a night-club and having a lot of sex, he eventually winds up solving crimes with Detective Chloe Decker (it... doesn’t really make THAT much sense after you watch the show but you learn to love and roll with it). Dan Espinoza is Chloe’s ex, and a foil to Lucifer - set up as a douche in much of season 1, he goes through an amazing arc and ends up in a strange tension-filled friendship with Lucifer.
Rec: This is a series (3 main stories, 2 outtakes) that builds the Dan/Lucifer relationship in the midst of season 2 perfectly and realistically, and in building it, affects how the rest of canon unfolds. The series eventually leads to an OT3, and it is written beautifully, perfectly, with Dan and Chloe separately learning exactly who Lucifer is and how someone who has been around since the dawn of time could love them. The characterizations are pitch-perfect, the writing amazing, and it will seriously leave you clutching your chest with joy.
Content warnings: N/A
“Every Ending a Beginning, and Every Beginning an End” by MarbleGlove, pentapus. 7.1K words, rated Teen.
Fandoms: Highlander (TV), Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey Books); Ship: Gen
Recced by: Lorne98
Backstory: Two fandoms that should by rights never mix. I read something about characterizations and crossovers that stated that as long as you stay true to the character your portraying it doesn’t really matter what world you place them in. This story proves that thought because the author stays true to who Methos even though it is a story with magical horses.
Rec: One of the most interesting things about a character as long lived as Methos (5,000 yrs give or take) is how they balance a reason to get up in the morning with the knowledge that nothing lasts forever. The author addresses that in this story by implying Methos borrows his motivations from the individuals he chooses to follow.
Content warnings: N/A
“deo volente (lux aeterna)” by qqueenofhades. 66K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: The Old Guard; Ship: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolo di Genova
Recced by: Katey
Backstory: The backstory to how Joe and Nicky met during the Crusades and went from enemies to friends to lovers throughout their 900 years of life.
Rec: After The Old Guard premiered on Netflix, all I wanted was a backstory for everyone. This fic appeared in its entirety 11 days after the movie hit Netflix, and it’s extremely detailed and really tries to be historically accurate, and succeeds.
Content warnings: What the author noted—brief mentions of suicide, attempted sexual assault, and other warfare-related themes and imagery
And a serialized podrama! Formatted slightly differently so it’s easier to read:
“The Crown of Thorns Podrama”: on AO3 // on Spotify
Full cast dramatization conceived and organized by Literarion; inspired by Irisbleufic’s Crown of Thorns ’Verse.
Length: 60+ hours. Original series is 275K words; the podrama is a WIP that updates weekly and is currently up to chapter 57.
Rating: Explicit overall; individual chapter ratings appear in chapter summaries.
Fandom: Good Omens; Ships: Aziraphale/Crowley; really interesting genderqueer background ships
Recced by: Anne Jamison
Backstory: Written over the course of 14 years, The Crown of Thorns ’Verse was inspired by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s response to irisbleufic’s own question (What are Aziraphale and Crowley up to in the South Downs?—Living in a cottage.) 6,000 years after Eden, an angel and a demon set up house; fanon is born.
Rec: The podrama is exquisitely cast and acted—the voices create a new canon as compelling as any other adaptation of these characters. Professional-grade editing and production, a beautifully evocative score, and original artwork come together in an organizational tour-de-force by Literarion and crew: one of the most impressive fanworks that I have ever encountered. Gesamtkunstfic.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
A few weeks back we mentioned creator signups for the Marvel Trumps Hate charity fanworks auction—and bidding is now open! In fact, it closes tomorrow; Saturday, October 24, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern. The mods write:
We have 273 creators and 416 auctions, with a huge variety of characters, relationships, fandoms, and universes being offered; you can find specific ones you’re interested in through our tag list and search guide.
If you’re in these fandoms and have even just a few dollars to spare, there’s tons of stuff to bid on—check it out asap! — 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)