Luce's Fanfiction Blog
Luce's Fanfiction Blog
5 February 2008
Absolute Beginners, by Penguin, on LJ. An Isumi/Waya fic that surprised me by how well it came together. A lot of Isumi/Waya fics work on the premise that they've been friends, blah, blah, but don't jolt it enough to make the transition from friends to couplehood... or when it does, it's (unaccountably) awkward beyond words by having either character being sooo unable to express their emotions, or even their wish to jump into bed. Grr.
Absolute Beginners works better. They are comfortable with each other, but they see each other with new eyes, and I love Isumi's inner voice. And bonus for me: Isumi sees in Le Ping what he misses about Waya! Usually I'm growly about Le Ping being used as plot device, but the way it's written here works. Love this fic.
31 December 2008
Mini Blind Go round... I dunno. I feel like I'm getting a bit jaded about Blind Go. Have been for the last, oh, two or three challenges. Wonder why: can't be that I don't have fics to write--I do, and when inspiration runs thin... well, inspiration has thinned, but my enthusiasm hasn't. Anyway, I don't feel much of the excitement or the anticipation anymore. Could be it's because most of the discussion about fics, etc, has moved on to chats, and my technological issues with chats aside (meaning I hate 'em) I feel a bit divorced from the body of discussion as a whole. Maybe I'm an old coot, but I really would like fics that aren't just occasions for the characters to do the same-old "does he like me?" dance, which is only a step (a very tiny step) up from the scenes of sex.
And pairing characters nilly-willy always grates on me. Like Yashiro and Ko Yeongha. I always have the impression that this pairing happens because Hikaru and Akira are a pair, so at Hokuto Cup, the ones left over, ie, Yashiro and Ko, have to get together.
Ok my issues are showing, shall desist.
26 October 2008
What's up with all these self-congratulatory Author's Notes about how great the writer(s) are, what good crack they have come up with, etc, etc? I mean... fics are good, but to read the preamble beforehand sort of sticks in my throat. Will never understand fandom.
14 October 2008
And the fates prove why I should not have attempted a 31_days fic for the third. Sneezy. Fluey. Can't write. I think I'll put this one off... maybe it's the fact that I'm not best pleased with the fic, but to be brutally honest I wasn't expecting to be (would be nice if these things turned out contrary to my expectations by being... good, y'know). It was/is a fic that scratched my itch, something that's been bothering me for years, so I wrote.
5 October 2008
And wham bam, anon meme on Hikago and concrit. I wished I dared to read it (caught it when there were about 40 comments, didn't read further after that) in full, but I know if I did, I'd probably come across something I disagreed with, and then I'll probably end up saying something I shouldn't. Besides, hate the way LJ makes me confirm that I'm a real person for anon comments. Oh well, let's just step away from the computer and try to calm down...
Posted a bunch of reader-response negative stuff, tiny bit of concrit about the blind Go fics. Am nervous. Very nervous. Maybe I shouldn't have posted it, especially not after an anon meme was posted? I had it mostly done--most of it just comments off the top of my head after reading. Just needed to recheck my references in case I confused one fic with another.
I posted it because I promised myself (after a load of procrastinating) to do it this time round, but... do people actually want to read thoughts and responses about their fics? Why would they? It's not really much fun, and you could be reading Drop Dead Gorgeous instead.
Speaking of Drop Dead Gorgeous, Mistful finished it! Yay! Makes me so happy--I had a spot of panic when I remembered she said she was going to take down all fanfics by Oct 6, scrambled for calendar to find that luckily, it's not the 6th yet. Last chapter of fic is awesome. I like that the evil confrontation between villain and Harry didn't drag out, just enough to for it occur to Harry just how much trouble he was in, and the way he tries to vamp the villain(s) with his Veela powers.
Felt a bit muddled about how things went with Draco and Harry, exactly how they negotiated their relationships. It was conflicted and things seemed to go in a circle for a while, which thankfully cleared up when they decided to go on an Amazon trip. Good, good. Didn't really like the mushy parts so much--I thought they had things settled; the epilogue wasn't necessary for me. But still a satisfactory ending (yum) to a fabulously enjoyable fic. I admit to feeling a bit nervous about how her book will be. I'm very excited about it, but I dunno, I haven't always liked her original stuff, and I'm worried that my expectations are unrealistic. Sigh. Need more fanfic.
28 September 2008
Exactly one month! Haven't posted in a while... just an update about how I wrote my Blind Go fic and cut it off at the end because I couldn't think of a good ending, at least not in the time it was due. Why am I so intransigent about deadlines? I did write a couple of original fics, so I'm okay with that. Even though the original fics read like fanfics with the serial number filed off. Would like to write more Hikago fic, though; it's like an itch. Must think of good plot or at least, dust off WIPs. Haven't been reading much. RL, why do you do this to me?
28 August 2008
Muri's Exchanging Territories nearly sent me into a jealous snit, because her Kaga is just really, really good. The kind that I want to write. Then again, since someone far better than me has done it, what I can do is admire, read it a few more times and try to find out how she did it, eh? But really, it's thoroughly enjoyable in that it managed to tease out the connection between Kaga and Touya, because really, what do those two have in common but just one Go match a long time ago that Touya probably doesn't even remember. But Muri brought up the Hikaru link it, and it's intriguing how it works out--that Kaga's enouragement of Hikaru's ambition comes from his own defeat at Touya's hands (somewhat?) and Touya's presence is what gives Hikaru the drive to be insei anyway... and the interplay of giving help to someone along the road of Go, out of a combination of generous, malicious or camraderie-ly intentions is just. Well played. Good stuff.
Which just makes me go into a whine about how my own stuff doesn't measure up, y'know? I've been pleased by some of the stuff I've done, but to be honest it just falls short of what it could. Though I guess that's normal... the fic you can imagine in your head always looks inferior to what is actually written...
Read this KKM fic, Desperate Times about a bastardised Wolfram who abuses Yuuri, causing him to eventually end up with Conrad. The bastardisation aside, I can really get behind this fic, because I love Yuuri/Conrad. (Well, except this one is a trifle wet here and there, but I can take a bit of angst and mushiness, I guess.) In that sense I guess it couldn't be considered a very good fic, because well, a fanfic that needs to bastardise a character (or two) to achieve the effect that you want is just... well, ordinarily I'd say the writer needs to try harder.
But then again, despite one weak point (which is not dwelt upon in loving detail, unlike some fics I could name, which go into specifics of abuse, etc, etc, and yeah, you could tell me Wolfram was an abusive bastard, and I might go with it, right until you give me gory details)... anyway, except for that one weak point everything's pretty ok. It's interesting to read. Yuuri, except for being rather weepy and shy (oh no, into OOC territory?) which might be explained by his ordeal, is appropriately kingly and the rest of the other character react quite reasonably, which is a bit surprising for an anime series, but canon itself bears it up for the most part, and so. So overall, a C+ I liked it anyway, though of course, I'm not really known for reading 'good' fics. Just the ones I enjoy.
11 August 2008
Aishuu's smut fic... I can't take it any more. Not really into fics that are just smut all the way. I like Hikaru and Akira together, yes, but the vanilla sex gets old, and the sex that utilises Go equipment makes me want me to throw the F keys at the writer. There's got to be a better plot.
7 August 2008
Also, being catty here: Ai and Chaineddove's Crossing Boundaries was recced today at crack_van, and the reccer said the pairing in it, Isumi/Le Ping, "is probably making you go WTF". Haha. It doesn't, because I think I was the first one to write this pairing (or one of the few to first start). So nyah.
Speaking of Le Ping in fics, I'm wondering why it's so much easier to write him rather than other characters who appear but shortly.
I mean, I have such a hard time writing Suyeon! And he arguably is just as significant to the narrative of Hikago as Le Ping. (Ditto for Ko Yeongha.) But Le Ping's just so interesting to write about. Maybe because we see more of him from other characters? Yang Hai grumbles about him, Chao Shi knows him, and of course Isumi. Sometimes it's not the length of a character's appearance, but how many people know him? Maybe there's something about the idea that we do see ourselves in other people... ah, too philosophical.
Read also Four Ways William Scully Got Picked Up From Daycare, by Emily Shore, which is excellent. A bit hung up on the past, but otherwise great. From the viewpoint of a kindergarten teacher aide.
May 27 2008
Resolution of Territory, and its sequel, A Pretty Good Year... good fics. I think I like the sequel much better, because Resolution, when you come down to it, is yet another Akira-and-Hikaru-get-together fic. Well done of course, but I can't pick it out of a lineout. Goddness, I'm sounding like a jealous asshole. Ok, well, I can't help it. I still can't pretend it's the fic to end all fics. But the sequel is really nice; I'm sad more people aren't reading it. I love the everyday-ness of it, that it's not 100% perfect about living with another person but life goes on anyway.
Mistful updated Quality of Mercy (which is up to, what, chapter 26 now?) and I love it. It's beautiful to see how she doesn't slack on the characterisation or plot or setting or in the foreshadowing and the layers of complexity that grow naturally (organically?) from the relationships and plots that are already there. I love emotional complexity that does not descend into complexity for the hell of it.
May 20 2008
Aja making a very good point about Hikaru and May 5. An excellent point. (I'm actually amazed.) Hikaru should not be going into a deep decline every time May 5 whirls around. In fact, it'd be pretty amazing that he even marks the date. I mean, given his sensitivity to Sai, it could go two ways: he turns into a mess, or not even notice (and therefore no trauma to get over). Given his personality, it really does sound like the latter.
So. I'm severely chastised. I should stop it with the angsty Hikaru. I think he'd get angsty still, but he probably didn't even know there was a date on which he could do this. So he'd be angsty when he feels like it--which, as the days go by, don't occur that often--but he'd buck up and totally forget it when he gets to play more Go. Hikaru's such person of the moment (except for Go planning) that the traditional type of closure doesn't occur to him. Yeah. That could be a fic one day, yes? Things are lost but what if they aren't really lost?
May 8 2008
Okay, I realise it's a trifle hypocritical to be well, critical now, but Blind Go fics. The below is what I put on LJ, minus the comments I originally wanted to say, but (luckily) realised they'd be too insensitive. So here goes...
I admit, not every fic was to my taste (what's up with Hikago no Hentai? While racy, it just made me go "uh-huh..." or The Three Months Known as Summer?) and there were a couple of crossovers I didn't get because I don't know the other fandom. *sigh* What's up with smut and Hikago, by the way?! I like a nice sex scene as much as anyone, but when it gets to be a competition of how many times they can have sex or in what combinations or how much of the kink list they can tick off... I'm not seeing the characters I like. I'm not saying they're OOC, definitely not--they just don't feel like different characters in the first place! They're like random people who have sex.
Though to my delight, there was the really nicely handled Tokyo Babylon crossover (As Petals Open to the Sun, by [marland]) AND a Speed Racer crossover (Greatest Number Ever, by [hachette]) which had me smiling throughout. And the Mononoke crossover, Baku~The Dreameater, by [schawlow], was excellent and integrated both series very well. Hm, I think in terms of crossover, the Mononoke one is technically excellent, though the Speed Racer one is definitely more entertaining and actually tells me about the characters/settings of both fandoms.
I have developed the theory that (witness my super Kuwabara 'sixth sense'!) that the types of fics written by um, newer, not-as-LJ Hikago-fervent writers, are a bit different from those written by um, the writers I've come across on a regular basis. If only I was good at guessing. *mourns*
I think the latter group is a bit more experimental? The former tends towards (and I'm making a generalisation of 747 proportions here) exploring Akira/Hikaru and the Question of Sai. Not that the Hikago fandom, collectively, does not ponder these topics over and over again. This is where I see the group mind on LJ. Like memes? There're trends to things and pairings. Akira/Hikaru are always popular, but the other pairings depend on who is more vocal. If there're fervent Ogata fans, there'd be more Ogata pairings and if there're Sai fans, we get Sai pairings. Whereas non-LJ, or LJ people who don't get involved so much in the fandom, work on the question of Hikaru and Sai.
ETA after comments on LJ: Oh gah. See, see??? This is why I sometimes groan when I see Ai's posts. How the hell could she mistake my words? (I realise I sound like a bigheaded buffoon, but this is my ficblog.) I mean, I clearly said that I thought newcomers write more traditional stuff, and she thought the opposite. I mean, I-I-I- *cannot speak for rage* And then to carry on an exchange on that misunderstanding. Well, thanks for making me sound like silly, as no doubt the participants in that exchange did. Sometimes I worry that whatever I say to Ai will be misconstrued--c'mon, it's basic reading comprehension!--and... right, calming down now. Will not make stupid generalisations. It was just once... twice... okay. I can be calm. I will just. move. on.
Speaking of the Akira/Hikaru fics, whoa, are there some really nice ones this round. Like A Resolution of Territory, by [marx], which also tracks Hikaru and Akira's careers. Also In Like a Lion, by [craufurd], is sweet, with a good dash of reality and oh, Akira. Nightingale, by [power], is short and worth a read, but the better fic of this writer's is Eschatology, which is from Sai's POV (and not Akira/Hikaru) and written with the delicacy of an ikebana master. It is beautiful. I'm envious and I wish I could write like that.
Gone Falling, by [faye], is an AU I didn't want to read, because oh, Hikaru. ;_; But what I liked about it was the way tiny, devastating truths came out. Healing Hopes, by [fiori], had a portrayal of Akiko that I really liked, who is honourable and who tries to do her best for her son--and Hikaru. A bit long-winded, but definitely worth reading.
Supernatural fics don't come any more powerful with Lost in the Woods, by [bancroft], though I do think the beginning is a bit draggy. Gates of Hell, by [beard], is too short because damn, I want to see Ogata's reaction to the rest of hell. And Reflections From A Tin-foil Moon, by [wavell], is appropriately dreamlike and I adored the way it was paced.
[cecil] gets my special kudos for writing about Yun-sensei (Flight *fangirls Yun-sensei*). Good writing too. And Kurata (Losing Games). And Nase (Live Tonight). Other minor character studies I liked were Watching the Stars, by [beard], about Kishimoto, and Pieces of an Uneaten Bento--a title I don't quite like--by [pfitzner], which has Saeki and Ashiwara.
I'm jealous. Why have I not thought of writing about Yun-sensei before? Maybe I ought to give it a shot. He seems a fantastic character... hm, let's see, what if Yun-sensei met Ko Yongha? Or Suyeon??? Heh heh heh.
Mastery, by [fisher], is a well-executed AU, though I think the problem is that I've read other equally well done AUs before (though I admit, not for swords) and so it doesn't draw my attention as strongly. Ditto for Blind, by [bly], about a blind Akira, which gave me déjà vu. Another AU, S.A.I., by [kozak], is exciting to read for the AI details. Not a breakout sort of AU, but I love her Sai.
And then there are fics that I sort of liked, but I'm making faces at the computer at the same time. [koyasu] of This is Not Another Love Story, the day I can imagine Akira getting married in a church is the day Shindou stops eating ramen. Otherwise loved the fic. And frankly, The Mean Ones, by [afonso], just made me think of Shindou Five, even though it's a well-plotted fic (I really do appreciate plot) and was intriguing to read. God Fingerprints, by [taylor], was enjoyable but relating each section to a finger of the hand was a concept somewhat too cute, as it didn't seem to signal anything to me. Pun not intended. I might want to read it again?
May 6 2008
Will talk of blind Go fics soon, but wish to note that new chapter (11) of Desynchronization (y'know what? One day I'm just going to give up and call this fic 'I can't spell it' fic. Goddamn it. Hate the title so damn much.) Great chapter. I wish Ogata was treated even more badly (he deserves it) but I guess the writers can't bear to. Still, it was nicely developed, Hikaru's reaction was excellent.
Can't help thinking the timing of this posting seems to steal the thunder from Blind Go... ah, well.
26 April 2008
Did I mention that Muri was writing Hikago/Naruto crossovers? Academy Days. Or rather, Hikago characters in Naruto-verse? It is a technological marvel. A literary and fanfic-ly marvel. I love the depth she brings to it, the way she develops Hikaru and Akira's characters--and Kuwabara! And even Ogata!-- even though they're in a very different world and different goals. I love the interpretation of Sai in Naruto-verse. I want to do something just as good, damn it! (But my powers are beyond me...)
1 April 2008
Aja's post on Hikago was enjoyable, though I didn't like the undercurrent that implied that Go was not very important--or at least, not as important as the characters. I think the Go is at least as important as the characters? I'm a mite sensitive about this, I guess. Still, her recs threw up a couple of fics I had never read before, which is to the good.
Mirabella's Rashomon, which dwells on Ochi's encounters with Touya prior to the pro exam, is excellent. But then her fics generally are. I love the scenes where (1) Touya tells off Ochi and (2) where Ochi tries to out-psyche Hikaru, which backfires. The imagery is really good--Ochi comes across as at least having an imagination this time (and one with some depth to it), even fanciful, and his passions, indignation and determination are rendered with delicacy. On hindsight, I think it's a bit long--the pace drags a bit as Ochi goes on and on, being angsty--but it's a minor quibble.
Toko's Adulthood is also very good. A touch more subtle in pacing than Mirabella's fic, though some of the descriptions of Hikaru/Akira feels overinvolved. Otherwise excellent. Very angsty, of course, but par for the course for the genre. And also, poor Akira. It saddens me that he could end up like that--and am very relieved that this is 'just' fanfiction and events depicted did not occur in canon.
30 March 2008
Am watching Kyou Kara Maou (KKM). I'm so intrigued by it. I like it lots. I mean, on the surface it seems pretty light-hearted, but there are serious parts as well... and sometimes it's just so hilarious that I can't feel depressed at the serious parts. Nice balance! A series where I don't want to throw things at the characters, yup. Also, the female characters are cool. I love Yuuri's mother. I think that on the whole, I like Conrad/Yuuri more than Yuuri/Wolfram (the name order is significant). Conrad is just that fantastic. And out there, there must be Shori/Ken Murata angry!sex, yes?
22 March 2008
Ai wrote this afterlife Sai/Touya Kouyo fic called A Deeper Calm. The writing's good, but... uh. Am trying to get past my dislike of afterlife fics. Grr. Why does my nihilistic tendencies affect my enjoyment of fandom so much? Though I'd say that the Shinto-ist/Japan-ist afterlife probably isn't as she portrayed... ok, enough with the cattiness.
Kristin wrote the remaining part of her Letters to the Far Kingdoms, which star Taiki and Gyousou. It's gorgeous and makes you want to pet Taiki.
20 March 2008
Blind_Go 5 is up! This is really good, as I wanted to write some Hikago fic (other than my WIPs, I mean) and more importantly, I wanted to read other people's Hikago fic. Signed up, but am now wondering what to write. As usual, then.
Elizabeth Peters has a new book! Will be available by August. I'm wondering if I should order now. It's supposed to be a Vicky Bliss mystery, from what the Amazon page says. COOL.
Also, Muri posted an index of her Hikago fic. I'm... pretty envious. She writes fantastic Hikago fic--there's a... skill? knack? genius? that I really admire. I wish I could be as good.
14 March 2008
Whoo. Would have updated more but was attacked by a headache.
Was recced this Beautiful Stranger fic, which is a 'Sai returns' fic. He returns as an actor. Before my "are you kidding me?!" side could respond adequately, it was hijacked by the plot turn of Hikaru returning to high school to play soccer. Uhhh. High school doesn't work like that.
Other than that, the fic was actually good. I should rec it. As soon I get my head around the high school thing and the potential Sai/Hikaru.
In other news, LJ isn't allowing the creation of free, non-ad accounts anymore. Guess it was lucky I'd created a new one last month, then? Haven't decided what to do with it, though probably it should be for RL. Meanwhile, I should check out the ad-ful ones and see exactly how allegedly horrible it is, for curiosity's sake.
Anyway, a few days back I read Askerian's GW fic and it is delightful. I really like the way she writes Wufei and the tiebreaker for me is, of course, Heero, whose characterisation is damn good.
10 March 2008
Have not read much fic. Not much fic for me to read. Not inclined to read those that I did come across. Pick any two. Also, am now stuck on this other original thing which is laughable for I have just two pages of it. I should go back to fanfic.
Desynchronization (why is this title so bloody difficult to spell?!) has a new chapter. Am extremely leery of Ogata's backstory, which is the fly in the ointment for me, 'cos otherwise it's a great chapter, especially with the confrontation between Ogata and Sai. I don't get the idea of pushing in this backstory, I just don't. It may explain Ogata's behaviour, but it's... redundant? As though Ogata must be 'affected' in some way to have the personality he has. I'm still undecided on the great nature vs nurture debate, but it's difficult for me to see Ogata as being affected by his environment to such an extent.
Eh. That I'm actually pondering Ogata's personality shows that he's not a boring character anymore? That's sort of good news. Now if only I can write some decent fic about him.
26 February 2008
Today I found that one of the people on my f-list, whom I've always thought of as a nice person, is behind this reccing community. I know, nothing unusual, right? It's just that: that reccing community has always scared me. There's nothing in the user info, no mention of what or why the reccer/reccers' motives are, and y'know, when they want to rec my fic, they just, like, comment: 'fic hast been recced' or something similar. There's no feedback on just why that fic was targeted. Even a simple 'nice fic' would have sufficed. I don't even know if the reccer liked the fic. For all I know, it's being recced so other people can mock it. So I'm thinking, holy shit, who is this?!
It's no secret I'm an absolute coward online. Paranoid, even. It's not that it's a bad thing to be recced. It's just that I keep thinking that nothing good can come of that much anonymity. I didn't really want to be recced if the reccer couldn't even introduce herself, but I did nothing because it really did look harmless.
Just feeling a bit uncomfortable about it. I thought this f-list person was not the sort to do something so... secretive? Shows what I know, huh.
Aja, who consistently goes by the initials B.N.F., wrote Hikago fic, titled Waterloo. What struck me about this fic was the emphasis on Go, even if it occasionally sounded like she'd read a little too much of 'Military Strategy Through the Ages'. (Yes, I'm being catty.) But yay, Go talk. I love the mention of Go in Hikago fics. And there's a lovely subtlety in the way she writes about Hikaru's reaction, the way she works out the narrative and the way she weaves in the relationships.
It's really well done. I'm a bit disappointed that her reputation seems to put people off, in that I don't see a lot of reviews from the people I know. Yes, she has lots and lots of comments from her personal supporters, but it would have been nice to see a few others in the fandom reviewing her, too. If only for the fact that it is a good fic, and should be read by more people, because the Hikago fandom deserves to have more fic. But I guess everyone has their comfort level. I can't talk, really. There are a few people out there whom I'd rather slap than review, too, no matter how readable their fics are.
Not zen. Totally not zen.
16 February 2008
Fic rants. Just. Okay. No more "why isn't there are fandom for ___" and "why aren't there more fics for ___", OKAY? I'm getting all kinds of grumpy when I see this rant, for it is strictly speaking, not a rant at all. It's an irritating entitlement demand. Frankly, even when I'm in a good mood I'm tempted to tell these people to just go and write their own thing! If you can't, stop wanting other people to produce it for you! And when I'm in a lousy mood, I just feel... um, more of the same. Just in a more hostile tone.
Not writing much lately. RL stuff and CNY aside, it's because I'm sort of at odds with a story I'm conceptualising. Goddamn it. This story, which I shall refer to as CM for now, is irritating me. It keeps wanting to be first person POV. And damn it, I am not writing first person POV. Personal rule. All my previous first person POV have been pathetic, angsty me-fests, even when they didn't start out that way. After a while I can't keep me and first person narrator apart. It's already difficult enough with third person.
Grr.
Also, am feeling very unconnected from my f-list (on LJ) because there's a lot of music things (I dunno what they are. I don't listen to English music! Or Japanese pop...) and the rest are either SGA or the US election. If only the US election were a fandom, though--it'd be more entertaining. Certainly, by now I'd be reading my nth wank on sex and race.
Can't type, wrist feels weird. I wrenched it a while ago and it twinges now and then. Practising guizhi on guqin certainly did. not. help. Ow, my poor ring finger.
13 February 2008
Have a bit of a Valentine's Day Hikago fic. Not at all romantic. Not as good as I want it to be. But shall post for V-day--have been feeling totally unproductive lately.
I do think, though, my thoughts on Hikago--and my direction for writing Hikago fic--has changed since I first encountered it. I don't mean just the somewhat automatic assumption of Hikaru/Akira. It's like... when I first starting writing Hikago fics, I was thinking mostly about Sai and how he affects Hikaru. I wasn't even considering the rest of the Go world. (As it turns out and to my part-chagrin, lots of talented people have been able to take a wider view.) Then I was thinking about Go and how important it was. I thought--and still think--that Go is central to the life of the characters. It's hard for me to write a fic (outside of really short fics or drabbles) that does not even mention Go. It doesn't have to be a fic centered around Hikaru or Akira. But there must be Go. Oh well, nature of the beast.
What has changed now for me is how concerned I am about um, the way Go players think about Go, competition and trying to find the Hand of God. Very abstract, huh! I want to know what they think about the path they're on, whether it's easy or difficult or just a horribly compulsion they have. Heh. Though wait, that's not so different from the concerns I had when I first started writing Hikago fics. Like All Strides? Though I treated the issue quite superficially there. Hm. Even fanfic writing proceeds fractally.
6 February 2008
Read The Process of Genius by macey_muse (lj name) which is lovely math/academic fic. Heh. I wish I could do that. I think I've lost the knack to talking about the things I've learnt.
And then I was going to talk about Muri's Square One, now that it's been a few days, but I'm still a bit... I dunno, raw? About feeling adrift. I mean, obviously my coping mechanism is not to think about negative stuff and concentrate on the good stuff but I still feel like I don't want to think about the fic--about not knowing it was posted when it was first, I mean.
Which is stupid and unfair, because I do want to talk about the fic. I love this fic. I love the suspense that Muri has built into it, and the way Sai still casts a shadow over the Go world. Am a bit angry at Nara, Shindou's opponent in the game, because obviously he has such talent for Go but what does he use it for?! And Ogata. You dumbass. I mean, I know you are cool and smart and swoonworthy but you are also stupid beyond words. You know, I wrote fics trying to exorcise this part of you--the part of you that is obsessed with Sai and thinks Sai holds the key to the universe. Not that this part of you is wrong or bad, mind, but just so that I will stop being so goddamn irritated with you for acting in this way. I want to get to the cool part of you. I mean, wake up, man! Wake up and smell the Go stones and stop looking for something that isn't there.
God, this is why I have so much trouble writing Ogata fics. I'm seriously envious of people who can write him well. Like the way Muri does, or Ai Ling or Aishuu or Qem or Ontogenesis or any number of people who understand him without wanting to give him the mallet treatment. Most of the time, I can't think of Ogata without wanting to shake him until his glasses fall off.
Obsession is a weakness. Particularly for a Go player. Heheh. Maybe I should write a fic about that. YUP. I shall.
But back to the fic. Love the way everything comes together. Love her Hikaru--Muri's got such a deft way of writing him. He's strong but invulnerable, and his closeness with Akira is just squeeworthy to read. Akira himself is fantastic. Love, love, love.
1 February 2008
You know what's cool about fanfics? It's getting to read Kuwabara is Dead and chapter 24 of Quality of Mercy over and over again. Let's talk about Kuwabara is Dead, by Flonnebonne, first. The title's fine. Sardonic, works well with the tone of the fic. It touches on the things that Kuwabara would find important, and the people that he meets, that he wants to play with: Ogata, Hikaru, younger players... it simply summarises what I adore about Hikago. Kuwabara is such a great character that when someone writes him well--really well, so that it's like really going into his mind--it's a delight. Of course I'm frightfully envious but wow. If other people can write fics like then they should jolly well continue doing so, because why stop?
Which is unfortunately not something that will happen with she-who-used-to-be-Maya, or Sarah Rees, author of Quality of Mercy. This fic has been going on since HBP but it's so bloody fantastic that sometimes I forgot DH ever happened. I love her Harry--and her Draco, her Pansy, her Ron and Hermione, her Snape, her Crabbe and Goyle. It's not just her characterisation, which is admittedly not exactly like the characters from the book, but that's because her writing just brings these versions to life--they can all co-exist! Not just her characterisation, but the way she builds up detail upon detail, without ever having the writing become tedious or dry or sudden or wtf-ly or point-scoring (certain fics give off a "see! I know these cool things about Harry!" that's simply teeth-gritting) or tired--she just achieves a good, solid build-up and with that, a totally readable story that is also witty and funny. Sometimes rather crack-ly or slapstick, but never in a way that feels like it's going to be a cliché.
Dyschronization surprised me (in a good way) because there was suddenly dramatic tension. Maybe this means I should take back my previous grumblings of this fic... But the way Waya steps in as the antagonist was great. Waya, you're a great character to work with. I really wish I knew how to write him better. But anyway, I love the developments of the plot and if it continues I can see this becoming a fic that actually changes my mind about Sai.
I'm sorry: it's just so tough to see Sai as someone else rather than as a selfish ghost. I also have all these preconceptions about ghostly characters--I think that things (see, it's telling that I use the word 'things') that are not human are just plain o' creepy and dangerous. Of course, human beings are already horribly creepy and dangerous to their fellow men--but I dunno: to me, not being human is a pretty big negative. This is why Bleach still doesn't work for me. (This is also why god-like beings, not to mention God--in fiction--are also Right Out.) Uhh. It's insane when your personal beliefs make it tough to read some types of fiction. Yet certain types of supernatural themes are more than okay with me (like vampires, demons, angels...) I think I run into a mental barrier when the text tries to make me think: non-human = human. For example, the idea that Sai the ghost must be a nice guy because he used to be a (human) nice guy. No. That doesn't work for me. Ugh, mental barriers.
28 January 2007
I've sort of figured out why I don't feel completely happy with the HP fics I've been reading lately. Which is weird, because they are really great fics, so well-written that you feel (ok, I) feel this horrible envy creeping up all over you (me). But let me see if I can elucidate it without sounding like sour grapes or a total idiot.
Among the fics I've been reading are:
These are good fics: I can't say that enough. I should be willing to rec them like hotcakes except well... except for the delight at reading well-wrtten fics, they sort of leave me cold. The problem for me is, they are fics that just don't feel organic to the series. I know this is a stupid reason, since they are future fics and well, people/characters change, even in the Wizarding World. I don't mean that they are straight-out OOC, 'cos that would have been an easier complaint. They just... I don't see Harry ever developing into a banker, much less one that used his magic to make his life as a banker easier. Yes, it seemed all right when I read it, but after reading it, I just couldn't see it. Same for Reconciling Lily's Eyes--which didn't have much to do with Lily's eyes--where Harry behaved in ways that he didn't understand. Maybe his personality/brains or even his heart was changed when he saw Snape's memories in DH. Yeah, that's not a big stretch... wait, it is. Harry has never shown much evidence of caring about other people when they don't want to be cared for; Voldemort's destruction aside, I mean. And the way he falls in love with Snape is... I don't geddit. I guess it's just a basic mismatch between what I look for in a HP fic, and what this fic presented.