The Rec Center #298
Hi all! This week we have a grab-bag of multifandom fic recs, along with articles about Orlando Bloom fandom and K-pop, some intriguing Tumblr posts about Team Rocket and Stargate, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“Dear TVXQ, Shipping Showed Me a Way Out of the Church” by Giaae Kwon at Catapult
A first-person essay from K-pop fan Giaae Kwon, discussing the political complexities of RPF shipping, and how K-pop fandom helped her reexamine her homophobic Christian upbringing.
“Confessions of a former Legolas fangirl” by Kendra James at Polygon
A fond look back at an earlier, weirder period of celebrity stan behavior, when the fandom passion was just as intense—but the divide between fans and celebs was much more stark.
https://twitter.com/manny_oe/status/1437564699592245253?s=19
older stuff
The Media Fanzine Collection at The Internet Archive
You can browse a scanned collection of vintage fanzines here—primarily Star Trek zines featuring 20th century fanart, fic and fandom discussions!
tumblr & beyond
Green Knight fanart by Kalihoffs
The deceptive genius of Team Rocket.
PSA: If you want to read (or reread) Homestuck, you’re better off using the unofficial archive because the original website is no longer fully functional.
Some fascinating anecdotal info on the P90, a real (!) gun that became a sci-fi prop in the Stargate franchise.
Lan Xichen finally comes clean.
The LOTR opinion they don’t want you to hear.
fanfiction
Just a grab-bag this week! Thank you very much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“my cathedral is the badlands” by postcardmystery. 3K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Justified; Ships: Boyd Crowder/Raylan Givens, Ava Crowder/Boyd Crowder
Recced by: Sofia
Backstory: Justified was a modern western TV show. Raylan Givens is a marshall, Boyd Crowder is his friend/nemesis, a crime lord/priest, and Ava Crowder is Boyd’s wife/Raylan’s ex-girlfriend.
Rec: Postcardmystery’s prose is one of my favorite things on the internet, and she uses southern gothic imagery wonderfully in this short fic.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence
“For the Last Time” by Estelraca. 4.8K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: The Broken Earth (N.K. Jemisin); Ship: Tonkee/Hjarka
Recced by: Chestnut_filly
Backstory: N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth trilogy takes place on a planet which periodically destroys civilization via geologic cataclysm. Orogenes, an oppressed class who can control and manipulate these geologic forces, allow this civilization to survive, but they are also mysteriously connected to the cycle of destruction.
Rec: This follows Tonkee post-canon and explores themes of recovery and grief. It’s beautifully written and a great character piece.
Content warnings: Major character death (offscreen, in the past)
“Long Distance” by NotEvenCloseToStraight. 39K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: MCU; Ship: Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark
Recced by: Gryvon
Backstory: Tony’s drunken texts go to Steve instead of Rhodey. Steve responds, starting a long distance relationship between Steve, Bucky, and Tony.
Rec: The pacing of the story made me ache along with the characters. Their relationship is hopeful and longing and beautifully sweet.
Content warnings: N/A
“Meet Me Halfway” by missgoalie75. 60K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Gilmore Girls; Ship: (F/F) Rory Gilmore/Jess Mariano
Recced by: jim
Backstory: In canon, Rory and Jess date and break up. In this, Jess is a girl, and things end up differently because of it.
Rec: Keeps the good stuff in canon while giving a new look on Rory and Jess’ relationship, with an added exploration of queer identity.
Content warnings: N/A
“Live a Long Life” by blackkat. 1.4K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Wars (All Media Types); Ship: Gen (Mace Windu & Leia Organa)
Recced by: mlraven
Backstory: In a world where Anakin left the Order to raise his kids and Order 66 never happened, Leia hides herself under Mace’s council room chair after retaliating against (pranking) her father.
Rec: Leia gets up to mischief and commiserates with Mace about how ridiculous Anakin is, and everything is fluffy and happy and nothing hurts. This fic always makes me smile, even though I’ve read it over 15 times.
Content warnings: N/A
“Love Is More Than Telling Me You Want It” by Phnelt. 100K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Untamed/ Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù; Ship: Lan Wanji/Wei Wuxian
Recced by: J
Backstory: The Untamed is a Chinese historical fantasy show with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji as the main characters. The fic is a canon divergent a/b/o with a stuck-in-a-cave fuck or die premise.
Rec: Despite the fairly tropey structure this fic is one of best uses of a/b/o to explore gender dynamics in romantic relationships I’ve ever read. Also the canon divergence is done so well, everything feels believable and not rushed.
Content warnings: Dubious consent (due to fuck or die), sexism, canon-typical violence
And a vid!
“Dream” by thegwynvids. 3:56, Not Rated.
Fandom: Multifandom; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Clever Manka
Backstory: I love multifandom vids and this is probably my favorite I’ve seen since bironic’s Starships.
Rec: All the feels.
Content warnings: N/A
https://twitter.com/bogbodied/status/1435802629980909568
FINAL THOUGHT
Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a rec to ✨ our new submissions form ✨, it looks like everything’s coming through just fine! As a reminder, we’re collecting paranormal recs for the month of October, but please feel free to help continue to break this new form in by sending any of your favorite fics for future lists! — Elizabeth