Re: blogs
Posted by:
Sarah (---.vip.uk.com)
Date: March 30, 2003 06:14PM
*shrugs* I write B7 fanfic because, to be honest, the characters were often wasted on the plots in the original series. Not to mention the sets, for heaven's sake. To quote Paul Darrow himself, "the special effects weren't very special". So it's an interesting challenge to take all these wonderful characters and set them in a storyline where they can appear to full advantage. Avon, for instance, is a full-scale tragic hero (or anti-hero) who wouldn't have been out of place in the hands of Shakespeare; however, in the hands of some of the writers who got hold of him, it took all Mr Darrow's considerable acting skills to prevent him looking ridiculous. Several scriptwriters got hold of the characters, some were better than others (aaaah, Robert Holmes and "Gambit" - now that _was_ a good episode), and I don't have a problem with having a go myself and seeing if I can do any better in what is, after all, a completely different medium.
Having said all that, I am much more in agreement about fanfic based on books. I wouldn't have written anything involving the Discworld if it hadn't been a crossover story, and in all honesty I think there _is_ a case for crossover fanfic because the original authors certainly aren't going to write it. Let's face it, working out the implications of what happens when crabby, unsociable Avon meets crabby, unsociable Granny Weatherwax is jolly good fun. But I don't see the point of writing stuff which is simply and solely based on one book, or one series of books, and on that point, Jon, I think you and I are in full agreement.
Oh, and don't anyone get me started on slash... grrr... I have one very strict rule: if you are ever going to use anyone else's characters, then respect the way they were originally written and don't try to go outside it. If you want to write about a man and an elf having a gay relationship, then that's fine, but if you decide to call them Aragorn and Legolas then I may just possibly kill you. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
Oh, all right. Do it if you must. Just don't _tell_ me about it and then we'll all be happy, OK? ;-)
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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)
Sarah