The Rec Center #252
Hello everyone! How are you doing! 😬😬😬
Before we begin, a message for everyone who’s able to vote in U.S. elections: I’m sure many of you have already voted, or if you haven’t, I doubt you’re undecided about what you’re going to do on Tuesday. But thousands of people receive this newsletter, and with the stakes being as dire as they are, I didn’t want to send it without asking: if you’re on the fence and/or considering not voting, please, please, please, for my sake, for yours, and for the most vulnerable people in your life and your community, vote for Joe Biden and Democrats running in your area for the House and Senate. (I mean, please vote in down-ballot races, too! But at the federal level...ya know...)
If for whatever reason you’re unable to vote in this election—or even if you are!—please take a moment this weekend to check in if you know any folks who live in swing or newly competitive states (hello Texas, please do this for me!!!). You never know who might be on the fence, and as Republicans are currently deep in a terrifying nationwide voter-suppression-athon, every vote cast could make a difference.
OK, thank you! Now...time for some distraction. With that theme in mind, we put out a request for “fic you can get lost in,” and we got enough for multiple lists! We also have an article on the queer subtext in horror, some fantastic What We Do In The Shadows fanart, and the launch of Gav’s YouTube channel on costume design, “Behind the Seams”!!! — Elizabeth
new stuff
“Just Bleed for Me: Watching A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and the Documentary Scream, Queen!” by Lee Mandelo at Tor.com
Just in time for Halloween: A heartfelt essay about Nightmare on Elm Street 2, which swapped the typical "final girl" protagonist for a teenage boy, and was subsequently derided (and celebrated) for its queer subtext. Years later, an indie documentary was made about the film’s impact, featuring extensive interviews with the lead actor, a gay man who survived the AIDS crisis and left the film industry soon after his breakout role.
“Alan Alda amazed how ‘M*A*S*H’ continues to connect with younger audiences” by Peter Sblendorio at the New York Daily News
If you’re a younger member of the thriving M*A*S*H fandom that’s emerged recently, get excited: Alan Alda is very pleased.
“Defending Fair Use in the Omegaverse” by Alex Moss and Corynne McSherry at the Electronic Frontier Foundation
We suspect the recipients of this newsletter might be more interested in defending fair use in the Omegaverse than your average guy on the street.
older stuff
“Living, Working, and Fangirling with a Chronic Illness” by Keidra Chaney at Uncanny Magazine
“When so much of participation in fandom is focused around visibility, it’s very easy to feel like there’s not much of a place for if you don’t see room for you to participate.”
tumblr & beyond
What We Do in the Shadows fanart by Kimarie Jude
“Wattpad has assumed control of the simulation.”
Eugene Lee Yang’s Zuko cosplay is so good!!
Scarf patterns for all the main cultivation sects in The Untamed.
why is the Great Mouse Detective... like that...?
“I think I’ll have to purchase antibiotics... I believe we’ve just gone viral”
Never forget: Fall Out Boy exists because of Joe Biden.
fanfiction
This week we put out a call for recs that fall under the descriptor “fic you can get lost in.” In my mind, I imagined, like, an engrossing 70K chapter fic, but nearly everyone sent in fics with 6-figure word counts…IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A LOT OF DISTRACTION THIS WEEKEND!! We’ve got you covered lol. We have more than we could use, so keep sending them in and we’ll do more lists in the coming weeks—and thanks to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“The Akashic Records” series by PeniG. 206K words over 26 works, rated mostly Gen, occasionally Teen.
Fandom: Good Omens; Ship: Aziraphale/Crowley
Recced by: Kitty Climpson
Backstory: The long, long love story of Aziraphale and Crowley, all the way from Eden to the cottage on the South Downs. Told through the records held in heaven of everything that happens on Earth.
Rec: This fic is hardly obscure, and may well have been recced before, and there are good reasons for that! Gorgeously written, first gen fic to ever hold my attention. Set up as a series of standalone works, but reads beautifully as a single story. Really thorough character exploration of A and C. It’s funny and serious, heartbreaking and extremely romantic to the point of soppy.
Content warnings: Too many to list here, but the author has tagged each story really carefully
“A Wolf Amongst Lions” by Kallypso. 444K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Game Of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin; Ship: Gen
Recced by: saltkettle
Backstory: In canon Arya manages to escape the main events by disguising herself as a boy and wandering around learning to fight. In this fic, Tywin Lannister recognizes her despite her disguise and decides what he really needs is an extremely hostile, belligerent protégé.
Rec: This fic takes a very action-oriented character and teaches her the importance of politics and big picture thinking. It also makes you emotionally invested in Tywin without redeeming him, which is absolutely agonizing.
Content warnings: N/A
“Into the Woods” by Skasis. 84K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Punisher; Ship: Frank Castle/Karen Page
Recced by: Emma
Backstory: This fic is a complete AU, so you don’t have to have seen The Punisher. Frank is a logger living a life of isolation up in the mountains of Seward, Alaska and Karen is an author who has rented the cabin down the way from Frank’s in order to get away and write her next novel in solitude.
Rec: I love log cabin isolation romance so much and these two just talk about books and fall in love, it’s great! This fic is just a great comfort read, particularly for the winter season!
Content warnings: N/A
“Soldier’s Heart” by Alex51234. 445K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Downton Abbey; Ship: Thomas Barrow/OC
Recced by: Barrett
Backstory: Downton Abbey is about a rich British family in the 1910s/20s, Thomas is their canonically gay footman.
Rec: This story starts as an AU where Thomas gets a nice boyfriend and becomes an epic, exquisitely researched wartime drama about the WWI medical corps.
Content warnings: Wartime violence/injury, period-typical homophobia
“Twelve Moons and a Fortnight” by Stiltonbasket. 180K words (WIP), rated Gen.
Fandom: The Untamed/MDZS; Ship: Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: Set in ancient China, The Untamed is a fantasy romance about the interplay between magical warriors from various aristocratic sects. The two leads are a pair of star-crossed lovers, one of whom dies and is resurrected 13 years later, finally getting his happy ending.
Rec: This regularly-updating WIP is a true epic; a deeply satisfying happily-ever-after to the original canon. Tasked with temporarily taking over as the leader of Yunmeng Jiang, Wei Wuxian embarks on a new phase in life while maintaining a long-distance courtship with Lan Wangji—eventually adopting a child together. Stiltonbasket is a very sweet and romantic writer who puts plenty of historical and worldbuilding detail (including interesting and well-characterized OCs!) into the story, fleshing out Wei Wuxian’s new life as he and Lan Wangji very slowly make their way towards becoming a married couple.
Content warnings: N/A
And a rec for a whole fest!
“Chocolate Box 2020 Collection.” 1,285 works from 509 fandoms.
Recced by: Penna Nomen
Backstory: This is out of the box, but you asked for something to get lost in :) The AO3 Chocolate Box exchange is one of my favorites. The 2020 collection included more than 500 fandoms, and was something I got lost in earlier this year after a death in the family. There’s so much to browse, it can easily absorb you all night.
Rec: The Chocolate Box exchange happens at the start of the year, with works published on Valentine’s Day. As you might imagine, there’s a lot of love and lust and sweetness in these stories.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
I (Gav) just launched a YouTube channel!! It’s a series of video essays about costume design on film, going back to my ~classic origins~ over-analysing the outfits in, say, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
I’m planning to cover a wide range of topics on Behind the Seams, ranging from deep dives into specific movies, to examinations of Hollywood gender roles, queer-coded fashion choices, and popular costuming tropes. This project has been so! much! fun! I hope you guys enjoy it too!
The first two eps are already up: A celebration of Mad Max: Fury Road’s brilliant post-apocalyptic style, and an overview of the historical drama genre, explored through the lens of Keira Knightley’s filmography. Is “historical accuracy” a real thing? Debatable IMO!
If you like those eps, please subscribe! (This is the best way to support the show, as I need 1000 subscribers for YouTube upgrade purposes.)
Wishing you all as relaxing a weekend as possible. — 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)