Crossover Fanfic Discussion
POSTED BY: zoid
UPDATED: Sunday, February 13, 2005 19:23
VIEWED: 5230
PAGE 1 of 3
Howdy again, folks!
I was talkin' with Channain on the 'BSG Renewal' thread, when it occurred to me that it might be possible to wed Firefly and Battlestar Galactica, at least in fanfic. Of course, we all know that our favorite Firefly-class transport was spotted in the miniseries, so maybe the shows' creators won't mind too much, huh?
Here's the concept: We, the Flans, attempt to bridge the universes of the two series so that an imaginary environment exists, which can support fanfic writers as they create stories with any combination of characters. We're basically trying to build a framework, a 'bible' for the crossover universe.
Here's an example: Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch's character in Battlestar Galactica) was a prominent Browncoat. He's currently a political prisoner, guilty of resorting to violence in an attempt to overthrow/restructure the government. In the fictive environment I'm visualizing, this means that Mal and Zoe would be deeply distrustful of Laura Roslin's government, although the tentative inclusion of Zarek and his followers against the mutual Cylon threat would make them reluctant allies with the government they once rebelled against. The Firefly characters would also be at least ten years older than they currently are, since Zarek's been in prison for almost 20 years, following his failed revolt. (NB: 10 years older? How suggestive is that, vis-a-vis the length of time before Firefly could return to TV?)
How would the other characters respond to their new alliance partners? Simon? Inara? Book? ...Would anyone among Serenity's crew be a Cylon?
This will be like a game of Pong, but with as many players as would like to join. Someone serves up a concept, we either refute its validity in response, or serve up one of our own, by way of accepting. Of course, we're gonna have to bend both universes slightly to make 'em fit, but we don't necessarily have to break them. Every once in a while -- if this proves to be an engaging endeavor -- we'll condense the acceptible ideas into a rule set (a bible) that may be used as a guideline for writers.
Sound like fun? Then join in! Every couple of days, I'll try to consolidate what we've said for final approval.
Okay, so somebody graph out the conflict/accommodation rules for Cylons ('Those That Know' and 'Those That Don't'), Blue Hands and Reavers. Heh, heh...
Respectfully,
zoid
P.S.
I'm personally hoping for a 'Zoe and Starbuck fight over Wash' episode. Sparks fly as two warrior women fight over the same 'sub' pilot...
_________________________________________________
"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I'm such a green horn when it comes to this crossover stuff. My biggest sticking points would be continuity of technology and the timeline.
First, the issue of BSG. They seem to be a good bit further along in the technology dept. than what we see in the Firefly 'verse. While there seems to be a wide range of technology in the 'verse, exactly how advanced its become, we don't really know. Hovering islands which hold private estates is pretty impressive. But basic Cylon level technology ?
Second, the timeline issue. I get the impression,from what I recall of the original BSG, that their early settlers went on and formed the basis of what we call Egypt. At least they had a heavy influence there. So, where do they fall in Earth history? Did the Anciets of BSG colonize Earth? Or simply mingle w/ the indigenous population of coincidentally very similar vertibrate mammals that walked on their hind legs? Either way, we here on Earth are 1000's of years behind the folks in the BSG 'verse, while the Firefly 'verse is still 500+ yrs in OUR future.
Maybe I'm going about this all wrong. Being too literal and all. I liked the idea of a Riddick / Firefly crossover, and I like this one too. But basic issues keep cropping up that seem awfully tough to bridge.
( Wonders to self if he's made ANY sense ) 
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:Whoa. Good concepts running there for sure and it does sound like all manner of twisty-turny kind of fun.
Originally posted by zoid:
This will be like a game of Pong, but with as many players as would like to join. Someone serves up a concept, we either refute its validity in response, or serve up one of our own, by way of accepting. Of course, we're gonna have to bend both universes slightly to make 'em fit, but we don't necessarily have to break them. Every once in a while -- if this proves to be an engaging endeavor -- we'll condense the acceptible ideas into a rule set (a bible) that may be used as a guideline for writers.
Sound like fun? Then join in! Every couple of days, I'll try to consolidate what we've said for final approval.
Unfortunately, it's also feeling and tasting more like an RP than a fan fic. If it is, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. Provided, that is, you had anticipated my joining in. I wouldn't want to assume or anything.
Having been involved with the Gunrunners RP on this self-same Web site for the better part of 2004, I'm currently finding significant time constraints when it comes to posting as it is. Adding another RP would only compound the issue. Much as I love the notion of combining two excellent 'verse's into one, I simply can't commit to another RP. Awfully sorry, but that's how it will be until I finish my degree. School's fun, but not all that forgiving when it comes to following my muse - my publishing "schedule" (or lack thereof) for my own claim to fan-fic would be the most obvious case in point.
Also - and this is just a suggestion - beings this would eventually get posted in the Blue Sun Room, or even the Firefly Universe sections, it might be a good idea to technomagically *SHIFT* this thread over to either of those venues. You could ask Haken about it, I'm sure he'd be happy to do that.
Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
AURaptor:
You made yourself clear enough, I believe.
My only observation would be that the current incarnation of BSG is really not identical to the original BSG's universe. There are some glaring departures, and I think the new show is better than the original for those changes.
While we know FF takes place 500+ years in our future, we've not been specifically told when the new BSG occurs. We have been told that Earth is/was an established-but-lost colony, now mostly considered a legend (as it was in the original, to my recollection. Sure you're not thinking of Stargate?). In FF, the precise whereabouts of Earth-That-Was is also a lost location, if you'll recall.
A somewhat larger, though not insurmountable problem is the naming of planets in specific, and, in general, the galaxy vice single-system argument that has stormed on FFFn for a couple years.
So, if JW's comments on the subject can be taken at face value (I assume they should be), then BSG is running from one system to the next by FTL jumps, staying just ahead of the pursuing Cylons. Eventually, they will come to the Firefly single-system, whereupon the stories would merge.
As far as planet-naming is concerned though, one is based on zodiacal signs (BSG), another on mythological gods (FF); so, not that large a departure either, and certainly not a major stumbling block, IMO...
Another interesting question arises: What happens to the Cortex when Cylons reach the FF solar system? Is it virus-protected against the code that disabled Caprica's defense net?
I believe it's possible to combine the two series without too much absurdity (and we can always just ignore that when it does happen). It'll be a little more difficult than "Alien vs. Predator" (which really violated timelines), due to the complexity of the settings; but it shouldn't be impossible. As I said, we'll have to bend the rules of both series a little, not necessarily break them.
And I'd really like to 'see' some of the possible character and plot permutations. The BSG heroes are Purplebellies, with lots of justification for the things they believe in and fight for; Firefly characters are -- to varying degrees -- anti-establishment, and likewise justified in their beliefs (Apollo might even be turned to the Browncoat way of thought, based on his reading and intellectual acceptance of Zarek's banned book)...
Imaginatively,
zoid
_________________________________________________
"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
One thing that might be interesting is that although the Firefly 'Verse is in some ways less high tech it does have a lot more colonised worlds and therefore population and industrial depth than the Colonies do on BSG.
If we think in terms of the Alliance and Independents being able to field millions of troops during the war and there being enough shipbuilding capacity for there to be 40,000 Firefly Class ships alone then you could play it as technological sophistication versus sheer numbers. For that matter BSG technology apart from FTL seems often no more high-tech in many ways than Firefly, they have no energy shields, rely on missiles and projectile weapons and nukes are still the ultimate weapon.
Darn there I go thinking like a Sci-Fi MilFic writer again
...................................
Hurrah, hurrah, when things are at their worst
With cries of “Death or Glory” comes the mighty Twenty-First
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Interesting concept, this.
I'm wondering if it's necessary to make ANY changes to the basic premis of either show?
It seems to me that they could easily both fit in the same 'universe', just different parts of it and could meet up with little trouble.
Like this -
In BSG, it seems that 'Earth' is part of their history/mythology, as being another place settled by the same people who settled the BSG colonies. A long time passes, they develop technology which is very similar to Earth.
In the Firefly 'Verse, the inhabitants of Earth - decended from the same stock as the BSG colonists, but having lost knowledge of them, find it necessary to leave Earth that was, and go off to another part of the galaxe where the worlds are closer together.
Neither show has aliens (except the Cylons, who were created by man).
So, there's just two lots of humans in the galaxy, one traveling in the BSG convoy, the other in the Firefly 'Verse cluster.
Then, one day, the BSG convoy happens on the Firefly cluster of planets.
What happens? Do the BSG people seek to make allies against the Cylons? What would the Allience make of another 'independant' military force arriving in its midst? How would Serenity get caucht up in the middle of this? What would Zoe make of Starbuck, and vice versa?
I see lots of interesting possibilities...
(I'll play this one through in my own head, if it doesn't fit with what you are doing here....)
*******************
Ruthie
*******************
By the data to date, there is only one animal in the Galaxy dangerous to man - man himself. So he must supply his own indispensable competition. He has no enemy to help him. (R.A.Heinlein)
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well aside fomr the timeline implication of when BG takes place.... because I recall that that they hint that either they're supposed to arrive on Earth eithe rin our past (inidicating these futurisitc folks ar ein fact our ancestors- a la Star wars "A long time a go in a galaxy far far away" - or they arriv eon Earth present day.
Now even fudging that I'm confused how Hatch's character could be a browncoat or how Mal and Zoe would have distruct of BG's govt since they wouldn't arriv eon the scene until post Ois or even the BDM.
But I'm sure there's a way to make it work.
If you're looking for anyone to try a Blake's 7, Red Dwarf (surprisingly possible but the tones don't match), Dr. Who or Cowboy Bebop- I'm all on board. For fun I outlined a Greatest American Hero crossover as well but scrapped it out of respect for Joss's rules (it introduces extraterrestrials into the 'Verse).
The character interactions on a B7 crossover would be a hell of a lot of fun to see though.
-Bob
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Actually, I was thinking of doing a cross-over fanfic, but with the cast of STAR TREK: VOYAGER. Out of all the TREK spin-off's, the only one I really got into was VOYAGER, even though it was the most pissed on series. I guess I have a real underdog complex.
Anyhow, I hadn't figured out exactly how they'd mesh, but I can just imagine various pairing from both series. Mal with Capt. Janeway, Simon with the Doctor, Kaylee with B'Elanna (I imagine Kaylee would be both enchanted and dumbfounded if she got her hands on a warp core), Wash with Tom Paris, Zoe with Chakotay, Inara with Seven and (I think the most entertaining) Jayne with Tuvok. That would definitly be a interesting meeting of Jayne's man-ape mental capacity and Vulcan logic.
"NO HAI ES BANDAI. THERE IS....NO.....BAND. AND YET....WE HEAR A BAND."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
AURaptor:
While we know FF takes place 500+ years in our future, we've not been specifically told when the new BSG occurs. We have been told that Earth is/was an established-but-lost colony, now mostly considered a legend (as it was in the original, to my recollection. Sure you're not thinking of Stargate?). In FF, the precise whereabouts of Earth-That-Was is also a lost location, if you'll recall.
"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity
Zoid, are you are mind reader or what ?
Actually, I was thinking about SG-1 a bit as I was typing, thanks in part to the SciFi channel. However, a reason I associated the original BSG to the Egyptian theme was because of the 'King Tut' helments that the Viper pilots wore. And of course, everyone knows that the Pyramids were made by super advanced aliens, whether they came through a Star Gate or migrated from the original 12 colonies. 
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hotpoint wrote:
Quote:
One thing that might be interesting is that although the Firefly 'Verse is in some ways less high tech it does have a lot more colonised worlds and therefore population and industrial depth than the Colonies do on BSG...
A very useful post, along the lines I'm considering. If I might, though: Please recall that while the 'Rim' or 'Border Moons' are technological backwaters, the Core Worlds are quite advanced, and may even be ahead of BSG tech. Don't forget Rance Burgess' hover car and laser pistol (which he'd clearly never read the 'dash one' on); a medical imaging technology that outstrips BSG's radiological methods, not to mention cerebral microsurgery. I would also say that the Dortmund (a 'cruiser') is significantly larger than a Battlestar, based on relative size of fighters juxtaposed alongside each. How much larger would an Alliance battleship or dreadnought be?
So, just because the Rim is technologically stunted, should not lead us to believe that the Core Worlds are. (Simon's most common complaint is his loss of access to high-tech.)
I rather envision the crossover environment as being highly conducive to Milfic. So, I'll be expecting at least one short story from you, once we get the ground rules -- the 'bible' -- finalized.
Respectfully,
zoid
_________________________________________________
"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME