DPP: Going AU

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is it - the week in which the person in charge of the DPP bus doesn’t have a driving license. so, because of that and the fact that I had a plan and then I changed it and then sort of changed it again, and so on… I’ll take one advice from another show and “I’ll fake it until I make it”. I do hope that you all are going to bare with me and not throw assorted vegetables my way.
After last week’s lovely discussion about what we don’t like in fiction I ended up with the idea of speaking about AUs this week (or at least for a while).
Today’s topic is not really a topic but a Q&A about AUs in fanfiction. In a perfect world the goal would be to try and classify them but some thoughts, opinions, ideas, even some recommendations would be great.

1. do you like them?

2. what do you like/dislike about them?

3. what works and what doesn’t?

4. when do you consider a fic to be an AU and when not or if you want: where are you drawing the line?

5. do you prefer the ones where we have just something slightly different, the ones where everything is different or even the totally different setting type?

6. how do you feel about crossovers?

7. are BSG related AUs different from the ones that you wrote/read in other fandoms?

8. what about original characters?


And the list can go on and on but I promised myself to keep it sort of short and to go by my own 8 question rule. So, let’s have it people...

Comments

[poppypickle.livejournal.com]

1. do you like them?

I am always on the fence about AU fics. It really depends on the author and the situation, etc. I always feel like my enjoyment of the characters is linked to their place within their fictional world, and AU obviously does away with that in many ways. So it really depends on the story.

2. what do you like/dislike about them?

See above LOL. I am jumping ahead of myself.

3. what works and what doesn’t?

Depends on the situation, how the author transplants the characters, etc. Like in Harry Potter fic, if the characters aren't magical in some way then I don't even both, but in Twilight fic (which I used to read LOL), I could have cared less if they were vampires. I like my pilots best as pilots, but I have def read some very well done AU pilot fics.

4. when do you consider a fic to be an AU and when not or if you want: where are you drawing the line?

For me AU is a completely different universe than the original 'verse that the characters exist in. If you play with the characters/roles/situations within the original 'verse (i.e. Kara is Bill's daugher, and Lee is in Kara's role), then I consider it to be more of a parallel universe. Or something like that. I don't know. Either way, I generally like it better.

5. do you prefer the ones where we have just something slightly different, the ones where everything is different or even the totally different setting type?

Slightly different.

6. how do you feel about crossovers?

I don't read them. I just...I think I'm kind of a 'verse purist LOL.

7. are BSG related AUs different from the ones that you wrote/read in other fandoms?

I don't know.

8. what about original characters?

Don't need them at all. I much prefer to see the characters we already know and love in completely new roles.

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

i like your parallel universe/alternative universe distinction. it's really interesting.