Need Fanfic Recommendations for PICKY reader

POSTED BY: LeeH
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 17:16
VIEWED: 25051
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CABRIDGES

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:16 PM

I like LJC/Tara's work, and I love everything by Harriet Vane. Vane has some serious spelling issues but her characterization and dialogue are so good I grit my teeth and read on.

_________________
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http://www.cafepress.com/bigredbutton

SerenityStuff.com - if it's made for a browncoat, I want to know about it!
http://www.serenitystuff.com

GUENEVER

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:23 PM

I love BookAddict! Anything by BA has been wonderful.

I would avoid anything by me -- I'm an engineer by training. We are notorious for bad grammer. Although, if you would like to help me on my grammer I could always use the help.

So far I've discovered that it is proper to go semicolon; but, comma. Thanks Major Bonafede! He taught me that many years ago when I was in grad school.

LEEH

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:30 PM

Ah, an honest engineer who knows his/her limitations. I admire that!

I'd offer to beta/proof your stuff, but I've gotten really grumpy after too many years of reading badly punctuated and grammatically messy college and high school papers, so now I'm too mean to do the job.

Here's my quick and dirty lesson semi-colons and commas, though:

1) Semi-colons primarily function like periods. In other words, anything that comes before or after a semi-colon has to be a complete sentence on its own; if a period can't go there, then a semi-colon shouldn't be there. (That sentence was itself an example of how to use a semi-colon, since I could have split it into two sentences, with a period after "own".) A dash doesn't have such strict rules, so it's often better to use one instead of a semi-colon.

2) A comma functions kind of like a pause (to catch one's breath), so it's got more flexibility. The one place that you DON'T want to use it is where a period or a semi-colon should go--that is, to separate complete sentences.

I actually like to teach this stuff; I just don't like to correct it in writing!!

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

GUENEVER

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:40 PM

Shoot. I became an engineer because I came so close to failing high school english for 4 years!

Yes, comma splicing is bad -- and something that I'm very good at.

Thank you for the advice. I've added it to my hint document.

CASUALTY

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 9:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by LeeH:
This is an appeal for recommendations for good--and I mean, GOOD--FF/Serenity fanfic.

My definition of 'good' fanfic is a little different than yours but I know where you're coming from. I've been a memeber of this site for a year now and I would say I've only just managed to work my way through the fics in the BSR. Now I wouldn't say I've read them all by a long shot but I've read a good few. The fanfics I enjoy are the ones that have characters and a story that interest me. The grammar doesn't bother me so terribly as long as the words are spelt correctly and the capital letters and full stops are in the right places.

So, here are a few of the ones that I have enjoyed the most. I hope that you find them 'good', by your definition too.

1. Lex Talionis by LJC. No need to say much about it really seeing as you've already read it, but probably the best fanfic I have read for Firefly/Serenity.

2. Adam's Rib by Jacqui
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=4485
I love this story. You said slash didn't really appeal to you, and I felt exactly the same way until I read this. Deals with a Kaylee/River relationship that works perfectly to my mind. Excellent character development and a good story to boot.

3. Stolen Moments by AMDOBEL
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=3388
Not slash although it may appear so at first. All is reavealed later. Ali D writes great stories but they do have many chapters. At least all these are posted now so there is no waiting for new ones to be added.

4. Kaylee's Lament by ScrewtheAlliance
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=4400
Widely reguarded as one of the best examples of fanfic out there. Much to my shame it is also one of the few good fics I havn't finished. I'm just over half way through (it's very long) but real life got in the way. It's next on my list of things to finish.

5. Exchanging Words by KiaForrest
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2629491/1/
Over on fanfiction.net. A story that I got so excited reading that I read it too fast missed bits out and had to go back and read again before all was revealed. You didn't say how you felt about non-cannon pairings. This one is a Kaylee/Mal story that is also handled very well.

6. Inner Darkness by Goldenthorn74
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=36
One of the first fanfics I read and remains one of my favorites. I love haw the relationships play out and move forward.

Well, I hope thats enough to be getting on with for now. If I think of anymore I'll let you know if you want me too. As you may guess if you read my reccomendations, I loves me some angst. Don't say I didn't warn you. Happy reading!

------------
"If nothing we do means anything then the only thing that means anything is what we do"
For those who believe no explanation is necessary, for those who do not no explanation will do.
"Bukkake, Shut up Alison!" Jonny Wallet Tourets
"Alison, don't you know this world is killing you?" - Nathan Fillion sang me a song!

NEVERED

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 9:46 PM

what do those stories do with regards to firefly canon?

i'd rather have stories that don't answer any of the big questions, and leave the backstory & ect. in the hands of kosher writers (time, joss, Ect.)

i tried reading the big stick a while ago, but it was way way too much revealing of backstory for my tastes.

NOSADSEVEN

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 9:47 PM

I haven't read the fics you've referenced, but I'd like to suggest Guildsister's "Truthsome" and the sequel/novel, "Blue Sun Job". She captures the feel of the 'verse and the voices of the characters very well, and structurally things are tight. The stories were written well before the movie came out, so there are some details that she needed to fill in that have since been contradicted, but that just goes with the territory in fanfic. The stories are definitely focused on character development (emotional and moral journeys-a-plenty), delving quite deeply into the backstories of Mal and Zoe, within the context of 'present day' action. Both fics can be found in the Blue Sun Room, and all the parts are conveniently linked together.

Truthsome, Part I: Shadows -
http://fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=894

Blue Sun Job, Part 1: Plans and Schemes -
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=1086

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.

CASUALTY

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by nevered:
what do those stories do with regards to firefly canon?

i'd rather have stories that don't answer any of the big questions, and leave the backstory & ect. in the hands of kosher writers (time, joss, Ect.)

i tried reading the big stick a while ago, but it was way way too much revealing of backstory for my tastes.

The non-cannon pairings are ones that are not there in the series and the movie. Kaylee/Simon, Wash/Zoe, Mal/Inara are present in both. Sometimes fanfic writers like to put different people together in relationships depending on what takes their fancy. Eg. Jaylee = Kaylee/Jayne. Rayne = River/Jayne. Some people like it, others don't, it depends on your preference.

One of the reasons why I read fanfic is to see what ideas other fans have about backstory for the characters. Again, it's all about preference. Some people will like the stories I like and others will hate them.

------------
"If nothing we do means anything then the only thing that means anything is what we do"
For those who believe no explanation is necessary, for those who do not no explanation will do.
"Bukkake, Shut up Alison!" Jonny Wallet Tourets
"Alison, don't you know this world is killing you?" - Nathan Fillion sang me a song!

LEEH

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:31 PM

Thanks--those look promising.

Me, I loves me some angst, and have a particular preference for Mal-angst when I can get it. So any suggestions there, bring 'em on. Again, though--I just have to have competent prose. It's a tragedy, but my professional life has utterly unfit me to read amateurish writing; it just grates on my 'ear.'

I did stumble on the Strawberry Awards site, about which I'd forgotten--so there are some possibilities there. And an old thread that I'd saved awhile back that also has fanfic recs.

Thanks all--keep 'em comin'!

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

SQUISH

Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:35 PM

I've been working my way through some of the fanfic here for a few months, so I thought I'd give some recommendations. I'm a college prof so I'm also much more interested in good writing (or competent prose as you call it). I've read some of those mentioned above and they are good, I do like LJC's stuff. Things in that vein (IMHO) are Kaynara's series Bedlam (designed as a season's worth of Firefly) and her second season Bed and Wine. It is very good, character and plot driven and one of the best fics I've read that weaves in all of the characters. Also lots of Mal angst! Also Jacqui's work, especially the recently finished Pieces. If you like one-shot pieces, I'd recommend LucasHarper or RinnyPJ. There are many others out there though, so I hope people will keep posting their favorites.

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