Templum Bellonae

I’ve never read any of Cory Doctorow’s books, but I might have to do something about that. Thank goodness there are some authors out there who can see fanfic for what it really is!

In Praise of Fanfic by Cory Doctorow

Funny summary of the show.

The names of the boys and of some of the subsidiary characters correspond to numbers in various languages. There’s no real point to this, and it doesn’t accomplish much beyond providing some extraordinarily goofy names. Quatre Rebarba Winner, this means you.

[...]

Duo is notable for being least angst-ridden of the five. He’s got a great waist-length braid, but Duo, what’s up with the jodhpurs?

A Guide to All Things Gundam Wing by Morgan Richter

The subtext of homosexuality began to put Hollywood in a quandry, however. Because they shoved their gay characters into symbolic closets, the audience’s ability to look for and read that symbolism grew, thus creating subtext where it wasn’t always wanted. This, then, gave rise to need for more symbolism, to show where the homosexuality began and ended.

One of my favourite fandom essays.

Wesley, AtS and gay stereotypes by The Brat Queen

An interesting comparison that I’d never considered making, since I don’t read much yaoi.

Then there’s a lot of little things. Details of aesthetics or character tropes. The near-futuristic setting, say; the fascist-fashion uniforms; the… the fact that you have one dark and one blond. *grins* (In manga it’s almost always thus, because it’s more interesting to draw.)

See my recommendation of The Administration.

Yaoi/BL and the Administration series by Sabina

A little too accurate, but very funny.

In order for your reader to follow your narrative, it is important to refer to the characters by their names.

Failing that, you should always refer to them by their profession, by their hair color, or by their eye color. Combinations of the three are highly encouraged, e.g., Peter is the brown-haired psychologist, Egon is the blue-eyed physicist, Ray is the brown-eyed engineer or hazel-eyed occultist, and Winston is the black man.

RGB Fanfic Primer by Johanna Swift

Since I found the Fanfic Symposium through Lucy Gillam, it’s appropriate that the first fanfic essay I recommend from there is hers. An interesting consideration of how male privilege affects slash fandom.

When Worlds Collide: Fandom and Male Privilege by Lucy Gillam

(1945)

Anyone who has ever heard that Wodehouse was a traitor or a Nazi sympathiser during the War ought to read this essay. It offers not only an excellent analysis of Wodehouse’s actions during World War II, but also some interesting ideas about his supposed indictment of the British class system.

In Defense of P.G. Wodehouse by George Orwell

Think RPS is icky? Want to complain about people writing it? Read this first.

Frequently Made Objections Against RPS v2.0 by Armelle Amaya

A short essay on the RPS phenomenon and its strengths and weaknesses from an author’s point of view.

And they all moved away from me there on the bench… by Fabula Rasa

Okay, so it isn’t fanfic. But it’s funny. If you’ve ever watched the show, you’ll laugh.

23. Picard walks up to the replicator and says, “Coke on ice.”

46 Things That Never Happen in Star Trek by

A humorous and well-written essay. If the title isn’t enough to tempt you, then nothing will convince you to read it.

Ever since the movie of the book Fellowship of the Ring came out, there seem to be two popular ideas about Elves’ sex lives. Either they are radiantly asexual, or they are all screwing each other madly, along with any dwarves, hobbits, and men who happen along. Whichever you prefer is usually based on how attractive you think Orlando Bloom is.

What Tolkien Officially Said About Elf Sex by Tyellas