Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL
The Fish Job: Random commentary and stuff
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
not a fanfic - just notes to follow the story **spoilers for Fish Job**
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 4528 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
I tried to make this a blog, but I got too long-winded, so it has to go here.
* * * * *
WARNING: If you haven’t read the Fish Job and you plan on it, please don’t read this because it will *spoil* it! Read the story first! Really, I’m going to lay out some info that won’t be good for your suspension of disbelief. (which is vital to the process…) Here’s where to start -
. * * * * * DISCLAIMER: It seems a mite arrogant and self-aggrandizing to be posting this. I’m not like that really. Well, maybe I am a little. :) But the thing is, I’ve been completely absorbed in this fanfic writing thing and have all these thoughts about it. There’re not so many FF fans around my local ‘verse, so no satisfying venting opportunities for me. Thanks for letting me vent here! I hope you’ll find it interesting, and if it starts a discussion about how you experienced/educated writers come up with stories, that would make me happy. I’d like to know! * * * * * OK, I have warned, I have disclaimed, now I will proceed with the commentary about The Fish Job, starting with where it came from. Sometime in November I read and by , which, if you haven’t read them, what’s wrong with you? They’re really good. Go read them now! Well, finish this, then go read them! If you have read them, you may recall a little scene somewhere in the second half of the BSJ where Mal, in a bad place as he so often is, finds himself taking a few sleeping pills in Inara’s shuttle, and he spends the night there. BSJ is all about Mal/Zoe backstory, so pretty much all that happened Inara’s shuttle was Mal taking the pills and sleeping. But I’m a Mal/Inara fan and I wanted it to go someplace else. It seemed such an entertaining way to
Comments
Wednesday, 08 February 2006 20:54
I'm an engineer, so I love looking behind the curtain to see how it's all put together. Thanks! You're a good time.
Oh, and next story - Be it soon! - Make my day and put even more spaceships in it.
Oh, and next story - Be it soon! - Make my day and put even more spaceships in it.
Wednesday, 08 February 2006 21:16
Really interesting and now I have more fanfiction to read! *runs over to the BSJ* :D
Thursday, 09 February 2006 02:28
That was really fun to read. I am so interested that you put it together backwards. I'm going to have to try that next time with my daydreams.
Thank you for writing - always a fun read!
Caper
Thank you for writing - always a fun read!
Caper
Thursday, 09 February 2006 03:06
Well, however you did it, we're glad you did. I recc'd this to my group. Personally, I've never been able to finish a chaptered fic, I get too distracted. And all the discussion of science and physics...I was just happy I guessed about the gun!
Thursday, 09 February 2006 04:44
You did a great job! I can totally relate to your writing euphoria. I'm a first time "writer" too, more of a hack, by my own words.
It's a rush!! You may have approached from a different angle, but who's to say what the right way to approach it is, as long as the finished product is this good, who cares right?
Keep writing and I'll keep reading, Mr. ...err.. Mary (I'm never gonna live that down am I?;).
It's a rush!! You may have approached from a different angle, but who's to say what the right way to approach it is, as long as the finished product is this good, who cares right?
Keep writing and I'll keep reading, Mr. ...err.. Mary (I'm never gonna live that down am I?;).
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 09 February 2006 04:46
Thanks for all of the info!!! I mentioned Phlip K. Dick because his work has questioned reality from the start and he began writing in the 50s. And he didn't make it simple - the characters (and us as readers) have trouble figuring out what is reality - just as you had Mal go through.
While most people know of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep because Bladerunner was made from it, it's one of his few novels that doesn't question reality. Therefore, I suggest starting with Time out of Joint or the darker The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Enjoy!
ubiquirk
While most people know of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep because Bladerunner was made from it, it's one of his few novels that doesn't question reality. Therefore, I suggest starting with Time out of Joint or the darker The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Enjoy!
ubiquirk
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 09 February 2006 13:07
Hooray! I guessed correctly with the Farscape reference. I agree with you that that Farscape episode didn't take it dark enough, but it was just so completely weird (considering how weird many episodes already were) that I can see how Crichton got so discombobulated (Isn't that a nice word?). What you did to Mal was indeed more scientifically accurate (if such a thing exists). At least, it made more sense to me. More, it seems like something the evil Alliance would do, although I must admit that having everyone forget seems a little far fetched to me.
I'm very interested to see this blog, because it shows how the story developed. From one to two to three key ideas/scenes, you wrote a brilliant fic. Knowing that also explains why the plot goes the way it does, and why you made some of the choices you did - you were working from the other end, and trying to make the question match the answer.
Overall, my only niggle about this story was the interweaving between Mal's dream and the real world. The big jump confused the heck outta me, something that I suspect could be fixed by reading the story in one go, as opposed to episodially rationed out. My little brain just can't remember what went before.
Good to hear that this has been a positive experience for you, because I certainly look forward to seeing another fic, and soon!
Errbrr (Who's far to lazy to get an account, even though she comments all over the place [and usually even forgets to put her name at the bottom of the comment])
I'm very interested to see this blog, because it shows how the story developed. From one to two to three key ideas/scenes, you wrote a brilliant fic. Knowing that also explains why the plot goes the way it does, and why you made some of the choices you did - you were working from the other end, and trying to make the question match the answer.
Overall, my only niggle about this story was the interweaving between Mal's dream and the real world. The big jump confused the heck outta me, something that I suspect could be fixed by reading the story in one go, as opposed to episodially rationed out. My little brain just can't remember what went before.
Good to hear that this has been a positive experience for you, because I certainly look forward to seeing another fic, and soon!
Errbrr (Who's far to lazy to get an account, even though she comments all over the place [and usually even forgets to put her name at the bottom of the comment])
Thursday, 09 February 2006 15:27
I like commentaries and I think you did a good job here. Having never watched Farscape, I enjoyed reading your rationals and plot-plans. I picked up reading Fish Job on Chapter 19. Wonderful story! It had me throughly engaged. I found myself sneaking another chapter instead of doing the pile of work on my desk. I'll go back and post comments at various chapters later. I hope that you do a sequel. Thanks for the story!
Thursday, 09 February 2006 17:39
Thanks for commenting! Glad to know people didn't just find this annoying. I wish more people would do commentary (hint hint) I love hearing the story behind the story.
ubiquirk - I have read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep! I have it at home actually, but I forgot who the author was. Really good book, just so sad! It made me grieve for a spider, and I hate spiders! I'll try his other books too.
errbrr - Good niggle, I agree. Next time I need to let my betas read everything before I start posting, to get comments on overall story flowish stuff. I was just so impatient!
surplusimagination (good name!) - thanks for leaving the comments, here and on the cchapters! It's always an honor to help someone procrastinate. I have a lot of skill with that myself. ;)
m4p
ubiquirk - I have read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep! I have it at home actually, but I forgot who the author was. Really good book, just so sad! It made me grieve for a spider, and I hate spiders! I'll try his other books too.
errbrr - Good niggle, I agree. Next time I need to let my betas read everything before I start posting, to get comments on overall story flowish stuff. I was just so impatient!
surplusimagination (good name!) - thanks for leaving the comments, here and on the cchapters! It's always an honor to help someone procrastinate. I have a lot of skill with that myself. ;)
m4p
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 10 February 2006 00:28
posted by M4P
"One more thing about River: it bothers me a little that she is so lucid in my story. All her behavior, though weird, has an explanation. I wish I’d made her a little more nutty. But an explanation occurred to me just yesterday: maybe she’s just sane-ish because she has Mal to focus on; she’s hanging out in his brain as well as hers. This would allow her to revert to being crazy in the future. (the BDM, as well as in my possible sequel.)"
You know in reading the story I just thought "Damn!! That writer has GOT IT!!! Maybe River isnt Insane.. Maybe its just that no one else around her sees the entire thought string she is having in her mind!! I never really thought that she was all that looney, Its that people are only hearing parts of the thoughts racing around in her mind. Imagine if while you were walking around thinking you just added voice every so often to what you were thinking. LOL people would likely call you nuts as well :) I really enjoyed your story ALOT! Although the whole Mal/Inara thing was the parts I wanted to skip LOL and the Zoe/Jayne parts were killer :) Anyway keep up the great work :) I hope to see more soon :)
"One more thing about River: it bothers me a little that she is so lucid in my story. All her behavior, though weird, has an explanation. I wish I’d made her a little more nutty. But an explanation occurred to me just yesterday: maybe she’s just sane-ish because she has Mal to focus on; she’s hanging out in his brain as well as hers. This would allow her to revert to being crazy in the future. (the BDM, as well as in my possible sequel.)"
You know in reading the story I just thought "Damn!! That writer has GOT IT!!! Maybe River isnt Insane.. Maybe its just that no one else around her sees the entire thought string she is having in her mind!! I never really thought that she was all that looney, Its that people are only hearing parts of the thoughts racing around in her mind. Imagine if while you were walking around thinking you just added voice every so often to what you were thinking. LOL people would likely call you nuts as well :) I really enjoyed your story ALOT! Although the whole Mal/Inara thing was the parts I wanted to skip LOL and the Zoe/Jayne parts were killer :) Anyway keep up the great work :) I hope to see more soon :)
Friday, 10 February 2006 00:32
sorry didnt realize I needed to register and have a name LOL. My appologies. But the above post from anonymous was actually me :)
Friday, 10 February 2006 14:43
Eso -
I figure River's weirdness is like 3 parts the confusion of being an out of control reader and 1 part pure nuttiness, the result of being through tough times.
FJ has the reader stuff in spades and not so much pure nuttiness, which is good for a laugh now and then :) and I want to be able to use in the future.
Glad you liked my take River though, and really glad you liked Jayne/Zoe!!
m4p
I figure River's weirdness is like 3 parts the confusion of being an out of control reader and 1 part pure nuttiness, the result of being through tough times.
FJ has the reader stuff in spades and not so much pure nuttiness, which is good for a laugh now and then :) and I want to be able to use in the future.
Glad you liked my take River though, and really glad you liked Jayne/Zoe!!
m4p
Saturday, 11 February 2006 13:56
This is really interesting. Like you I wish more people would write commentaries, especially on the really good longfics with a lot of interlocking elements - it's fascinating to see how everything in another writer's 'verse fits together.
(oh, and IMO it should NOT have ended at chapter 14 - firstly my favourite bit of all of it is chapter 16, and secondly with the route you took you could not possibly have left it with a crazy Mal wandering round his ship. Well, you *could*, an author can do just about anything, but leaving it with him the way he was then would have been tragic and creepifying. The impression would have been that he slaughtered everyone on board two minutes later. The length, pacing and plot resolution of TFJ are perfect, and believe me, I do not say that often.)
(oh, and IMO it should NOT have ended at chapter 14 - firstly my favourite bit of all of it is chapter 16, and secondly with the route you took you could not possibly have left it with a crazy Mal wandering round his ship. Well, you *could*, an author can do just about anything, but leaving it with him the way he was then would have been tragic and creepifying. The impression would have been that he slaughtered everyone on board two minutes later. The length, pacing and plot resolution of TFJ are perfect, and believe me, I do not say that often.)
Sunday, 12 February 2006 12:27
Really interesting to read (I'm only about halfway through your fic...my bad about the spoilers). What is cool is that it reminds me of the process of writing my fanfic The Losing Side, which is the first fiction I've ever written.
I came up with the story by watching Mal...we see the look of absolute dispair and horror on his face at the moment he finds out the war is lost, and we know it continues to haunt him. But when we come upon Mal six years later, he is a relatively happy individual, considering.
I always wondered, with everything he's been through, how he manages to have the capacity to love and care for his crew so much. This is a man who has lost his faith, given up in so many ways, and been so badly hurt in so many ways that he should be completely bitter and withdrawn. So how could he possibly care so much about his crew, and where does he get that ability?
My answer is that a few of them carried him through some really rough times; he genuinely needed them, and they were there for him and gave him at least the knowledge that some people can be trusted and will care about you and help you no matter how bad it gets.
So my story began at the end too....I'm just filling in the blanks as I go, and I hope I can put it all together right by the end.
I came up with the story by watching Mal...we see the look of absolute dispair and horror on his face at the moment he finds out the war is lost, and we know it continues to haunt him. But when we come upon Mal six years later, he is a relatively happy individual, considering.
I always wondered, with everything he's been through, how he manages to have the capacity to love and care for his crew so much. This is a man who has lost his faith, given up in so many ways, and been so badly hurt in so many ways that he should be completely bitter and withdrawn. So how could he possibly care so much about his crew, and where does he get that ability?
My answer is that a few of them carried him through some really rough times; he genuinely needed them, and they were there for him and gave him at least the knowledge that some people can be trusted and will care about you and help you no matter how bad it gets.
So my story began at the end too....I'm just filling in the blanks as I go, and I hope I can put it all together right by the end.
ANONYMOUS
Sunday, 12 February 2006 13:34
I like it when people quote back to me and such....so I have to say this bit was one of the most powerful, emotionally hard-hitting scenes in the whole story for me. The fact that Mal gets a little comfort in the middle of that whole horror show, and that it comes from what might otherwise be one of the scarier crew members is really moving.
"It seemed hours before the questions ended. They took him out of the chair and cuffed his wrists to the wall above his head. No sitting. No resting. Kaylee was left on the floor. No mercy.
He hung from his wrists, his legs wouldn’t hold him. Did he really just tell them everything? Did he really tell them about the Tams? About Zoe and Wash? “I’m so sorry,” he whispered into the darkness. Then he gasped: River was standing in front of him, clear light shining on her from nowhere. This light didn’t hurt his eyes.
“It’s OK,” she said. “We’re nearby now, I can help you.”
“How did you…?” Mal shook his head. “It don’t matter. Get out.”
River stepped closer to him. “You didn’t need to do this to yourself.” She put her hands up to his face. He pulled away at first, but the bruises didn’t hurt when she touched him. Her fingers felt cool. Soothing. “I could show you how to control it, but I’m afraid they’ll know I’m here.” She stared up at his wrists; Mal felt the cuffs let go and he collapsed to the floor. The relief was so great he couldn’t even ask her how she did that.
“Don’t be afraid.” She was crouching next to him, touching his face again. "
"It seemed hours before the questions ended. They took him out of the chair and cuffed his wrists to the wall above his head. No sitting. No resting. Kaylee was left on the floor. No mercy.
He hung from his wrists, his legs wouldn’t hold him. Did he really just tell them everything? Did he really tell them about the Tams? About Zoe and Wash? “I’m so sorry,” he whispered into the darkness. Then he gasped: River was standing in front of him, clear light shining on her from nowhere. This light didn’t hurt his eyes.
“It’s OK,” she said. “We’re nearby now, I can help you.”
“How did you…?” Mal shook his head. “It don’t matter. Get out.”
River stepped closer to him. “You didn’t need to do this to yourself.” She put her hands up to his face. He pulled away at first, but the bruises didn’t hurt when she touched him. Her fingers felt cool. Soothing. “I could show you how to control it, but I’m afraid they’ll know I’m here.” She stared up at his wrists; Mal felt the cuffs let go and he collapsed to the floor. The relief was so great he couldn’t even ask her how she did that.
“Don’t be afraid.” She was crouching next to him, touching his face again. "
Thursday, 16 February 2006 15:27
Many thanks for these insights, M!
I thought about doing something like this myself, and indeed I posted a few brief thoughts in my blog (thanks for the comment, btw), but you've pretty much summed up my experience for me!
Quote: "I’m not a writer, and before the FF obsession came over me the whole idea of fanfic was, frankly, scary. Well, unknown at first, and then scary. I mean, someone not Joss & Co. taking liberties with his characters? I think not! But I had begun to learn the error of my ways after reading some very good FF fanfic, and I took the plunge and wrote down this Mal/Inara scene to get it out of my head. (I’m sure you other fanfic writers understand how that is.)"
Totally. :)
And when the story is finished, it is very hard to let go of it without wanting to record some observations about the processes behind its creation. I agree with all your points about posting being very scary, and the confidence boost that feedback gives you, and how absorbed one gets in the writing.
You said you wish more people wrote commentaries. I discussed a few points in my blog entry, but I might now emulate your example and attempt a fuller explanation of how 'New Prospects' came into being, while it's still fresh in my mind.
Thanks again!
I thought about doing something like this myself, and indeed I posted a few brief thoughts in my blog (thanks for the comment, btw), but you've pretty much summed up my experience for me!
Quote: "I’m not a writer, and before the FF obsession came over me the whole idea of fanfic was, frankly, scary. Well, unknown at first, and then scary. I mean, someone not Joss & Co. taking liberties with his characters? I think not! But I had begun to learn the error of my ways after reading some very good FF fanfic, and I took the plunge and wrote down this Mal/Inara scene to get it out of my head. (I’m sure you other fanfic writers understand how that is.)"
Totally. :)
And when the story is finished, it is very hard to let go of it without wanting to record some observations about the processes behind its creation. I agree with all your points about posting being very scary, and the confidence boost that feedback gives you, and how absorbed one gets in the writing.
You said you wish more people wrote commentaries. I discussed a few points in my blog entry, but I might now emulate your example and attempt a fuller explanation of how 'New Prospects' came into being, while it's still fresh in my mind.
Thanks again!
Thursday, 13 July 2006 12:15
But hey, anything that includes the word ‘nano’ is sexy, right?
-Agreed, definitely from my EE point of view.
why wouldn’t the machines just use elephants or something? Wouldn’t an elephant matrix be easier to maintain? Food + water + sunshine = happy elephants. No rebel city of Zion needed
-LOLOLOL too true, but I agree, not a good movie basis
As for an insight on my own writing, I started with almost nothing, coming up with a few chapters on the spot, never writing more than I was going to post. Now, I have some ideas of where the main plot is going to go, but I still write and post one chapter at a time instead of writing the whole story out. Some of the really neat plot developments have been randomly inspired and spur of the moment, completely unplanned but evidently keeping readers interested enough to continue.
I am glad you posted this. Guildsister's stories were the first that I read on this site, and I loved them. As a fic writer who didn't think much of my own abilities I can sympathize with you on being hesitant to create some (what business does an electrical engineer have writing stories anyhow?) but now that I have started doing it, it is like a drug to me.
-Agreed, definitely from my EE point of view.
why wouldn’t the machines just use elephants or something? Wouldn’t an elephant matrix be easier to maintain? Food + water + sunshine = happy elephants. No rebel city of Zion needed
-LOLOLOL too true, but I agree, not a good movie basis
As for an insight on my own writing, I started with almost nothing, coming up with a few chapters on the spot, never writing more than I was going to post. Now, I have some ideas of where the main plot is going to go, but I still write and post one chapter at a time instead of writing the whole story out. Some of the really neat plot developments have been randomly inspired and spur of the moment, completely unplanned but evidently keeping readers interested enough to continue.
I am glad you posted this. Guildsister's stories were the first that I read on this site, and I loved them. As a fic writer who didn't think much of my own abilities I can sympathize with you on being hesitant to create some (what business does an electrical engineer have writing stories anyhow?) but now that I have started doing it, it is like a drug to me.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007 05:00
i can't think of how to start this...somehow, by following random links around, i came upon the first chapter and that was at, um, 8? i think? and it's now midnight, but i COULD NOT STOP READING THIS. so FREAKING good! just...wow! no, no, WOW! just...WOW! thanks for disrupting my nice old-person-bed-time, but THANK YOU for THIS!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
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