March 29, 2024

The Rec Center #430

Hello all! This week we have articles on the Star Trek franchise and the BBC’s super cool attempt (lol) to market Doctor Who with AI, plus Discworld fanart and a multifandom grab-bag of fic recs! — Elizabeth

 

new stuff

“The Future of ‘Star Trek’: From ‘Starfleet Academy’ to New Movies and Michelle Yeoh, How the 58-Year-Old Franchise Is Planning for the Next Generation of Fans” by Adam B. Vary at Variety
A deep dive into the future of Star Trek, as we approach its seventh decade on the air.

“A Gunshot in the Courtroom” by Rachel Simon at Vulture
Ten years on from the shocking demise of a beloved character on The Good Wife, the cast and creators look back on how they handled the actor’s choice to leave the show, offering fans a chance to grieve his death in real time.

“The BBC Won't Use AI to Promote Doctor Who Again After Being Yelled at by Fans” by James Whitbrook at Gizmodo
“The BBC announced its intent to experiment with generative AI weeks ago, only to learn that few forces on this Earth are as potent as annoyed Doctor Who fans.”

 

 

older stuff

“A Love Letter to the “Clarissa Explains It All” Bedroom In All Its ’90s Teen Glory” by Marah Eakin at Dwell
On a youthful fandom for Clarrisa Explains It All—especially her glorious bedroom.

 

tumblr & beyond

Discworld fanart by inquissien

“Wtf is a yaoi”

this week in The Cut...

they make a convincing point

“If AO3 had a slogan”

a Star Trek: TNG fan comic for the fiber artists.

 

fanfiction

A grab-bag this week! Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth

“Entering Orbit” by museaway. 31K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Star Trek (new movies); Ship: Kirk/Spock
Recced by: sainatsukino
Backstory: Kirk is the captain of a spaceship. Spock is his first officer and an alien from a species who seek logic over emotion. Together they are the slash ship that invented slash.
Rec: I re-read this story like every year. Kirk is the guy who says “you should see my home” as a joke and Spock is the guy who takes the invitation seriously. This fic is so sweet and I love the atmosphere that the author managed to create.
Content warnings: N/A

“Better the Devil You Know” by sistermichael. 4.1K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Derry Girls (TV); Ship: Sister Michael/Janet Taylor
Recced by: queuest
Backstory: Sister Michael and Janet Taylor keep meeting at the friends across the barricades retreats. And for once Sister Michael might just have found someone she respects.
Rec: As soon as I saw the friends across the barricades retreat center episode, I knew Sister Michael deserved this fic to be written. This is a fantastic study of the possible relationship between these two women.
Content warnings: N/A

“all these things they will change” by scrapbullet. 5.2K words over 7 works, rated Teen to Mature.
Fandom: Black Sails; Ship: James Flint/Thomas Hamilton
Recced by: Meghan
Backstory: A series of short but lovely snapshots of James and Thomas' life, mostly post-canon, both fluffy and bittersweet.
Rec: It's the happiness I wanted for James and Thomas when the series ended, while still acknowledging the pain and trauma and the pasts that they both still carry.
Content warnings: N/A

“In which the sword was servant unto right” by rain_sleet_snow. 12K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Tortall (Tamora Pierce); Ship: Gen
Recced by: Chestnut_pod
Backstory: In the third (by internal chronology) series of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall novels, the series protagonist comes across a young noble girl whose neglectful older sister is plotting to destroy the kingdom via, essentially, magic acid rain. This little girl, Maura, does what Tamora Pierce protagonists do and steps up, at great personal cost, to do what others should have had the wisdom and courage to do for her. And then we never see her again, Tammy, why?
Rec: This author's Tortall stories always have such incredible texture to them. The people in them talk like real people, while still talking like Tamora Pierce characters. While this is technically the first story in an extended AU (also worth your time), it stands alone beautifully as a meditation on the various options available to Maura after the end of Wolf Speaker. It's immensely touching and full of great character work.
Content warnings: N/A

“pride is not the word I’m looking for” by Tossawary. 408K words (series is 551K words over 5 works), rated Mature.
Fandom: 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù; Ship: Luò Bīnghé’s Adoptive Mother & Shàng Qīnghuá, Mòběi-jūn/Shàng Qīnghuá
Recced by: Emily
Backstory: SVSS is a transmigration satire where the author of a webnovel transmigrated into his own story—only to be unable to change what happens. In this incredible AU, Shàng Qīnghuá goes to visit his protagonist son when the boy is still a toddler—just for a peek! He’s not going to interfere! But it’s bad, it’s really bad, how is he supposed to walk away? So he takes Luò Bīnghé and Luò Bīnghé’s adoptive mother with him and derails the whole plot. He doesn’t even feel that bad about it.
Rec: Tossawary writes some of the best SVSS AUs, absolutely nailing worldbuilding and characterization. Luò Bīnghé adoptive mother is dead well before canon happens, but in this AU she is a fully realized character who helps SQH take control of his life even as SQH does the same for her.
Content warnings: Violence, human experimentation, implied/referenced forced prostitution

“i feel it in my teeth (and it’s too good to resist)” by darlingjustdont. 5.8K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Hockey RPF; Ship: Jamie Drysdale/Trevor Zegras
Recced by: phonecallfromgod
Backstory: This fic puts a vampire spin on the shockingly trope-y real-life dynamic of Jamie Drysdale, a Canadian defenseman, and Trevor Zegras, an American forward who talked smack about Canada’s defense after they played against each other in World Juniors. It's an amazing fly by of the most compelling parts of their rivals to teammates to roommates to besties (to lovers) arc and also they’re vampires.
Rec: The vampire lore in this fic is so original and compelling, including a sexy plot twist I find myself thinking about all the time. It’s a great little jump off for the ship as a whole or just a fun one-shot enjoyed without context!
Content warnings: N/A

And a vid!

“Movement | Joe & Nicky” by gss42x. 2:47, Not Rated.
Fandom: The Old Guard; song is “Movement” by Hozier; Ship: Joe/Nicky
Recced by: mischiefseven
Backstory: The Old Guard is a movie about a group of immortal, unkillable warriors. Joe and Nicky are a couple who have been together for literally a thousand years.
Rec: The pacing and rhythm of the music and the dialogue is amazing. Perfect use of a Hozier song.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence; rapid/flashing cuts

 

 

FINAL THOUGHT

For anyone who still has Dune on the brain, the latest ep of my podcast Overinvested is an in-depth review of Dune: Part Two! Find it on all major podcast platforms.

And to everyone: Have a great weekend! — Gav