The Rec Center #416
Hi all! This week we have Elizabeth’s latest column at Atlas Obscura (about the beloved Yuletide fic exchange!), along with articles about K-drama and Tolkien copyright conflicts, some cool Doctor Who fanart, and another rec list of seasonal fanfic. — Gav
new stuff
“The Yuletide Fanfiction Exchange Is a Holiday Marvel” by Elizabeth at Atlas Obscura
On Yuletide, the long-running rare-fandom exchange, featuring reflections from participants about the potential for kismet—finding the one other person who likes your extremely niche thing.
“How K-dramas came to and dominated America” by Kayti Burt at Polygon
A deep dive into the history of Korean television—and the fandoms around it—in the U.S. (Featuring recs of all sorts!)
“Copyright claim against Tolkien estate backfires on Lord of the Rings fanfiction author” by Safi Bugel at The Guardian
You may remember the LOTR sequel author who sued the Tolkien estate for infringing *his* copyright. In an extraordinarily predictable turn of events, they sued him right back.
remember when people on riverdale were doing a drug called “jingle jangle”
— jourdain searles (@judysquirrels) December 16, 2023
older stuff
The link in last week’s “older stuff” article mysteriously vanished, and we did not catch it before we sent out the newsletter. Thank you to Calyx for flagging us, and…take two!
“On Celebrity Deaths, Fandom Friends, and How to Grieve Online” by Stitch at Teen Vogue
“While there’s a physical distance between us and that loss, the grief burns brighter every time we look at the shared fandom object and are reminded of who we’ve lost.”
tumblr & beyond
Doctor Who fanart by lomakes
“lesbians obsessed with some guy is this sites entire bit 15 years running”
an intriguing lil canon detail on the Doctor’s house at the end of the last Doctor Who episode, “The Giggle.”
“our blessed historical fiction vs their barbarous rpf.”
fanfiction
Last week we brought you part 1 of our super-long end-of-year holidays list; this week, we have part 2. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in a rec. <3 — Elizabeth
“muddle through somehow” by curtaincall. 27K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Good Omens; Ship: Aziraphale/Crowley
Recced by: BeatriceBabe
Backstory: Aziraphale is a food blogger who writes recipes and, as audience appeal, shares stories about his wonderful husband and son. Neither of whom exist. Which isn’t a problem, until his new cookbook involves a raffle for a fan to spend Christmas with Aziraphale and (theoretical) family. It’s quite the pickle, until he realizes that his lovely neighbor Crowley just so happens to have his nephew staying with him for the holiday...
Rec: The story is written from Aziraphale’s point of view, but there is never a doubt that Crowley is Absolutely Smitten, which is always a fun trick to see an author pull off. And, the fic just hits some really good tropes: Fake Relationship, Neighbors, and of course, Only One Bed.
Content warnings: N/A
“Shamash” by igrockspock. 1.5K words, rated PG.
Fandom: Star Trek; Ship: Spock/Uhura
Recced by: stars-inthe-sky
Backstory: This is vaguely set in the reboot/Kelvin universe but could probably work in TOS as well.
Rec: Jewish Spock! Leonard Nimoy’s influence on the character is legendary in this regard, but this story takes a quiet, thoughtful approach in thinking about why Spock in-universe would observe Jewish traditions from his mother’s family, and what it would mean that he does.
Content warnings: N/A
“...and a partridge in a pear tree” by strangehunger. 20K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir; Ship: Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Gideon gets Harrow as her Secret Santa, but the problem is that they supposedly hate each other. What ensues is a bunch of running around in circles as Gideon tries to find the perfect gift while also ignoring her developing feelings for Harrow.
Rec: Cozy and fun, love the bratty dynamics of the characters and their application to a mall goth universe.
Content warnings: N/A
“make this feel like home” by carolinaa. 30K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia; Ship: Gen - Todoroki sibling bonding hours
Recced by: BeatriceBabe
Backstory: The Todoroki siblings grew up in a bad situation, which affected each of them differently. This fic is about them learning to reconnect and how to be siblings and also people around each other and seeing who each of them has become. It’s set over Christmas break, but there isn’t an emphasis on Christmas As A Concept.
Rec: The author writes such a believable dynamic between the siblings. Each of them is so clearly their own character with their own experience, and they are all learning how to be people together. The fic swings from super chill hangouts to learning to see each other’s horrifying childhood through their own horrifying childhood, and doesn’t shy away from the “everyone is awkward but everyone is trying” nature of that. Sibling bonding, revealing secrets, and also playing in the snow.
Content warnings: Referenced child abuse, nightmares, panic attacks, dissociation
“Christmas with the Tkachuks” by puckingtrash (imafriendlydalek). 25K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Men’s Hockey RPF; Ship: Leon Draisaitl/Matthew Tkachuk
Recced by: Grace
Backstory: “Matthew invites Leon to join him for Christmas in St. Louis and Leon says ‘yes’.”
Rec: Matthew makes bad decisions while drunk, and Leon is going for what he wants.
Content warnings: Alcohol
“Parker Macmillan has a Problem.” by gaybritishcow. 3.2K words, Not Rated (est. Teen).
Fandom: Blaseball (Video Game); Ship: Gen
Recced by: jellyfishlover
Backstory: This takes place in the Vault, a place where legendary players (and those who cause mass trouble for previous leagues, in special circumstances) are kept for safekeeping. The God of the Vault, Lōotcrates, is redecorating the vault for the holidays, much to the disgruntlement of the pre-history players that have to deal with its overzealousness.
Rec: It’s a very silly and enjoyable festive read! Loot’s voice is so hard to nail down correctly, and this fic does an excellent job at portraying it!
Content warnings: Mention of blood and blood sports, hints at child abuse and past death
“Not A Hallmark Christmas Movie” by LadySesame. 27K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Wiedźmin | The Witcher; Ship: Geralt/Jaskier
Recced by: Grace
Backstory: The title is a lie, but it’s a very cute one. “When a record breaking storm leaves the entire neighborhood without power just before the holidays, Jaskier is saved from freezing to death when his kind neighbor, Geralt (whom he definitely doesn’t have a crush on) offers to let him stay over until the storm lets up.”
Rec: This is an adorable little modern AU where they get snowed in together without power and, well, the expected happens. Very light and fluffy.
Content warnings: Mentioned homophobia
“you don’t know why (but you’re dying to try)” (orphaned). 2.5K words, Not Rated.
Fandom: American Vandal; Ship: Peter Maldonado/Sam Ecklund
Recced by: phonecallfromgod
Backstory: American Vandal is a true crime mockumentary about high schoolers investigating spray painted dick vandalism, as well as a stunningly accurate and insightful commentary on high school culture in the digital age. Peter and Sam are the best friends, high school news anchors and co-documentarians behind the project.
Rec: While never the focus of the show Peter and Sam’s affable best friend relationship, including a few dramatic ups and downs, feels so natural for a classic pining filled best friends to lovers narrative. Told over three New Year’s Eves, this fic captures the best of both the teenage authenticity of the show as well as some of the most beloved tropes of the fandom.
Content warnings: N/A
“Boxing Day” by lyricwritesprose. 6.8K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Doctor Who; Ship: Gen
Recced by: GlowsInTheDark
Backstory: Send your brain back to 2010 when the Tenth Doctor has just regenerated into the Eleventh Doctor due to saving Donna Noble’s grandfather Wilf from radiation poisoning (at Christmas, no less). This story follows Wilf a year later, around the anniversary.
Rec: I love that this story deals with the aftermath of something that the show usually just takes for granted, and performs an emotional fix-it. It’s a great look at regeneration and it also beautifully captures the Eleventh Doctor’s brand of alienness and whimsy and menace.
Content warnings: Alcohol
“giddy up jingle horse, pick up your feet” sounds like something tom wambsgans would say to greg as he’s being forced to commit a federal crime
— ℜ𝔞𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔩 𝔈𝔩𝔦𝔷𝔞𝔟𝔢𝔱𝔥 🍒 (@chaotic_sub) December 19, 2023
FINAL THOUGHT
It’s that time of year! We’ll be back with one more newsletter (featuring our little 2023 personal round-ups), but we also want to start reminding folks about Yuletide recs, which we solicit for the first 1-2 issues every January.
In the past we’ve sometimes explained what Yuletide is; now, I encourage you to read my article above. :-)) Please send in anything you enjoy from this year’s collection—and it’s totally fine if it’s before author reveals, because we’ll go back and add the names before publishing in January. And please make sure to mention Yuletide 2023 in the themes/tropes field of the submissions form! — Elizabeth