June 2, 2023

The Rec Center #387

Hi all! This week we have articles about Hollywood abuse and the #EndOTWRacism campaign, along with some cute Stranger Things fanart, multifandom paranormal AU fic recs, and more! — Gav

new stuff

“Lost Illusions: The Untold Story of the Hit Show’s Poisonous Culture” by Maureen Ryan at Vanity Fair
Maureen Ryan is one of the most accomplished entertainment reporters currently working. In this excerpt from her new book about Hollywood abuse, she exposes the toxic culture behind the scenes of Lost, with actors and former staffers going on record about the racist and abusive atmosphere fostered by showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof.

“The case of the Lego Bandit” by David Kushner at Insider
“Playing with Star Wars Lego bricks made them famous. Then a mysterious crime drove them apart.”

“As #EndOTWRacism Fights for AO3 Policy Changes, Fandom Racism Bubbles to the Surface” by Stitch at Teen Vogue
On the End Racism in the OTW campaign and the racist backlash it prompted: “As with the rest of the Internet space and internet culture at large, people of color are left behind and left out, subject to racism and punishment for talking about what we’re experiencing.”

older stuff

“textomancy” by Caelyn Cobb at The Smart Set
“Making characters re-live their lives, again and again, can feel like an unholy act, especially when creators don’t understand it. But like with Willow’s magic, it’s all about finding the right perspective. Fanfiction so often acts as a healing force.”

tumblr & beyond

Stranger Things fanart by inklessletter

“like... fishing ships??”

“the most elaborate and beautiful zelda dungeon of all ? a woman’s mind”

In honor of the Stanley Cup Finals starting this weekend, please enjoy all the quote-RTs to this guy who invented a brand new type of sexism by saying female hockey fans only watch for “the zamboni and the jumbotron”??

“literally the most accurate X-men adaption we have”

fanfiction

This week we have a mix of paranormal AUs! Thank you very much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth

“The Old Ones Are Coming” by susiecarter. 26K words, rated Teen
Fandom: DCEU; Ship: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne
Recced by: Orangistae
Backstory: Lovecraftian AU in which Bruce is unwillingly destined to unlock a portal for malevolent extra-dimensional beings set on destroying the world, an event that Clark was sent to Earth to prevent.
Rec: I’m not a particular fan of Lovecraft or DCEU canon but this fusion blends them in a really interesting and effective way; I particularly like how it recontextualises Bruce’s antisocial tendencies and obsessive single-mindedness. It’s also wonderfully atmospheric, with a heavy creeping sense of dread that doesn’t let up until the end.
Content warnings: Psychological and body horror, various disturbing behaviours including self-harm

“at the end of the world (i’ll tell you the truth).” by nwhrs. 12K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: NCT (Band); Ship: Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul | Ten/Suh Youngho | Johnny
Recced by: bassbotics
Backstory: Ten and Johnny are members of K-Pop group NCT and also, best friends. In this story, Ten and Johnny have been immortal lovers for centuries, except they haven’t seen each other in decades but Johnny comes back home for Christmas. And Ten wants to end their relationship. This fic is about Ten’s complex feelings about their relationship. It’s about friendship and identity and family and love.
Rec: This fic is genuinely so warm and kind and lovely. It made my heart ache in the best way possible. Ten struggles to navigate his own emotions and Johnny is a pillar of strength and comfort. overall, a very reassuring fic that brings me joy whenever I read it.
Content warnings: Internalized arophobia

“By daybreak we’ll be gone” by storm_petrel. 13K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: The Losers/The Losers (2010); Ship: Carlos “Cougar” Alvarez/Jake Jensen
Recced by: fieldofyellowdandelions
Backstory: The Losers are a team of black-ops/special forces operatives led by Franklin Clay. In the movie (there is also a comic book but I didn’t read it) they are betrayed by their handler and embark on a quest for revenge. This fic is an origin story of The Losers with an AU twist—they are also werewolves.
Rec: So, werewolf fic—it’s a guilty pleasure. What I like about this fic is that it is so wholesome (no sex, no knotting, no omegaverse). While there is a relationship in this fic, it’s ultimately a story about Clay creating his pack and has some very good found family vibes.
Content warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, references to past trauma

“paper armor” by ephemeralgrime. 14K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Ghost (band); Ship: Cardinal Copia/Dewdrop
Recced by: Missy
Backstory: Copia, the leader of a band, is in charge of his ghoul bandmembers, demonic entities, and they have customs and bodies unlike humans, but Copia is determined to help when the problem of Dewdrop changing horns arises.
Rec: Copia is full of perseverance and just plain a trooper, and I love the writing, its lovely and makes me feel for Copia and Dewdrops plight, and ecstatic when they pull through and become closer for it. <3
Content warnings: Mild dubious consent, body horror

“Dying for a Drink” by tsukinofaerii. 62K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Marvels Ultimates; Ship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Recced by: KeeperofSeeds
Backstory: Ultimates is Marvels Dark and Edgy AU. In this world Tony has terminal brain cancer. In this fic he ends up taking up an offer for an unusual cure and Steve has to help deal with the fall out and his own struggles with his sexuality and growing feelings for Tony.
Rec: An epic length AU that blew my mind with the attention to detail and mixture of vampire politics and growing relationships and mystery.
Content warnings: Major character death, graphic depictions of violence

FINAL THOUGHT

A call for recs! Since Pride Month has begun, we’re soliciting queer and trans fic. And I mean, let’s be real lol, the vast majority of the submissions already feature queer characters, but we’d love stores that are about queer and trans themes, identities, experiences, etc. (Whatever this means is up to you!) Hopefully we can run a list or two at some point in June.

Additionally: in recent months, there have been fewer and fewer fics in our submissions bank that center female characters or include female characters in ships. So this is a general call for all female-centered fic! We do not like to run all-dude lists, so please help us out!

You can send us fic for either of these requests—or, of course, your favorite stories regardless of characters and themes, which are always welcome—via our submissions form. And as a reminder: we also love your vid recs, comics, podfics, etc. The form is set up for fic, but you should be able to include all the relevant info in the fields provided—if not, you can always email us with any clarifications at elizabethandgav at gmail. — Elizabeth

FINAL FINAL THOUGHT

Season 1 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available for free on YouTube in the US, throughout the month of June! (I highly endorse this show, which is fun and episodic with a charming cast!) — Gav