The Rec Center #352
Hi folks! This week we’ve got articles about Tumblr and D&D, along with some cool Arcane fanart, multifandom fic recs, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“Why Race Is Still A Problem In Dungeons & Dragons” by Linda Codega at Gizmodo
D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast has released an updated ruleset that attempts to address the problematic ways the game handles race. This piece dives into the history of racial bioessentialism in D&D, and extensively quotes players of color about why the new rules inadequately address the game’s fundamental issues.
“Tumblr probably won’t drop its porn ban, but it might be about to loosen it” by Adi Robertson at The Verge
An important update!
“Hallyu! The Korean Wave” at the V&A
Korean media/music fans who are London-based or will be traveling there between now and next summer: this recently opened special exhibit at the V&A looks awesome! And if you can’t go in person, there’s a lot of supplemental material on the website to check out.
https://twitter.com/kendrawcandraw/status/1498023144325582850
older stuff
“Anne Rice” at Fanlore
In honor of the premiere of AMC’s adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, we wanted to share a piece about Anne Rice’s…complicated relationship with fandom over the years for any newer fans/folks who may be unaware. But when we saw the nearly comical amount of material on her Fanlore page, we felt that was the best possible thing to share. Happy reading, and if you watch the show this weekend, enjoy!!
tumblr & beyond
Arcane fanart by kalicocal
“Completely obsessed with this Reddit theory that Pennywise and Mary Poppins are members of the same monster species.”
some beautiful Stardew Valley travel posters.
this silent movie remix of Tim Burton’s Batman looks really cool!
the most unrealistic part of Death Note.
“The true AO3 experience is trying to remember a very specific fic...”
fanfiction
Just an unthemed grab-bag this week! Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“He Who Pours Out Vengeance” by Underground. 149K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Hannibal; Ship:
Recced by: Orangistae
Backstory: A sort of alternate version of season 2 (written in the first hiatus before the actual S2 aired), with Will fighting to clear his name and prove Hannibal’s guilt from within the BSHCI.
Rec: This fantastic, novel-length fic is a completely plausible and compelling continuation of S1 of Hannibal, accurately recreating the show’s characterisation, thrills, and sense of humour. Plus, it features my favourite-ever version of Beverly Katz, who is far better-served here than she was in canon.
Content warnings: Violence, cannibalism, drug use, emotional manipulation (the usual Hannibal stuff)
“kickabout” by inlovewithnight. 4K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Ted Lasso; Ship: AFC Richmond Players/Jamie Tartt
Recced by: shenfully
Backstory: Wayward son Jamie Tartt comes back to Richmond after leveling up in maturity, but he needs to do more work to redeem himself from being an asshole to the team before. The answer is a good old fashioned gangbang.
Rec: inlovewithnight is a master of characterization and emotive porn. This fic is blistering hot, packed with feelings, and a tenderness to its characters that pervades the whole thing.
Content warnings: Minor reference to implied dubcon
“privilege escalation” by ariex09. 8K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Murderbot Diaries; Ship: Murderbot & Asshole Research Transport (ART)
Recced by: Hummus
Backstory: Murderbot Diaries is about an artificial construct designed as a Security Unit, which manages to override its governor module, thus enabling it to develop independence, which it primarily uses to watch soap operas. As it spends more time with a series of caring people (both humans and fellow artificial intelligences), it starts developing friendships and emotional connections, which it finds inconvenient.
Rec: The tag “Emotionally fraught pair programming” says it all, really: MB and ART need to work together to write a malware patch for MB. It’s gen (and they’re machine intelligences so our definitions of sex/romance don’t necessarily transfer over) but incredibly intimate—there’s a reason these two are Mutual Administrative Assistants.
Content warnings: Loss of control/autonomy, clearly negotiated consent that is respected on both sides but is still very fraught and maybe not entirely enthusiastic
“how cold steel is (and keen with hunger)” by jinlinli. 22K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Captain America; Ship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers
Recced by: Jo
Backstory: Well, it’s stucky, but really I feel like this fandom missed a golden opportunity when they didn’t call the ship buckrogers.
Rec: Honestly I really loved this fic because it explored the process of Bucky slowly recovering on his own in Bucharest and what his mindspace might have been like. It’s just written so beautifully and it really makes you ache for the characters.
Content warnings: N/A
“Odd One Out” by thingswithwings. 28K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Leverage; Ship: Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer
Recced by: Jenny Hamilton
Backstory: Leverage is the procedural where a bunch of criminals ruin a rich person’s life weekly. Then they drive past the ruined rich person in one of their cool cars and gloat about their downfall. This happens every episode.
Rec: All of thingswithwings’s Leverage fic is A+ terrific, and this one is a good little get-together of the main OT3 ship, with an aromantic Eliot Spencer.
Content warnings: N/A
And a vid!
“I Ran” by Eleonora.t. 2:31 minutes, Not Rated.
Fandom: The OA; Ship: The OA/Homer
Recced by: Mysterytour
Backstory: The OA is a story about a mad scientist, an angel with a mysterious destiny and her five followers: four school boys and their teacher. Also interdimensional travel via interpretive dance. Netflix’s most annoying premature cancellation.
Rec: A fanvid for The OA set to Hidden Citizens’ cover of I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls. This vid perfectly captures the drama and tension of The OA’s story in season one.
Content warnings: Some gore and death
https://twitter.com/derryfacts2/status/1574874376167628813
FINAL THOUGHT
It’s now properly fall where I live, and we are still soliciting autumnal recs! Since we’re also heading into October, we’d also love more ~spooky~ or supernatural submissions (bonus points for spooky + autumnal!!). Please use our one-off submissions form and make sure to use the tropes/themes field to let us know what you’re submitting for. — Elizabeth