a little tiny POLL!!!

Ok, now for something relevant in the community....

What, in your opinion, is the BEST fanfic of them all, and what, in your opinion is the absolute WORST piece of shit ever typed? I want a 200 word essay on each. I will post the results next week.

On Thu, 25 Mar 1999 00:17:33 GMT, [email] wrote:

As someone who's written a "Daria" fanfic, I'm afraid I must abstain due to conflict of interest. :-)

I'll have Quinn whip up one of her little barn-burners toot sweet. :-)

Martin (to send E-mail, remove the "nospam" from my E-mail address) ---- Quinn: "When they got nervous, they'd drink cocoa." Helen: "Now, sweetie, there's nothing to worry about." (door slams) "Looters!" ---- Outpost Daria: Your Online Database for All Things Daria! http://systech.simplenet.com/daria/

The best fanfic is written by Invisigoth Gypsy, and her best fanfic so far is the Disney World stories.

Tara

Martin J. Pollard wrote in message ...

"Looters!"

On Thu, 25 Mar 1999 16:58:56 -0800, "Tara and Amanda May- not Dad, ha ha ha" wrote:

Tara, a word of advice: Do *NOT* get me started on the subject of 'shipper fanfic. You may not like what you hear. :-)

Martin (to send E-mail, remove the "nospam" from my E-mail address) ---- Quinn: "When they got nervous, they'd drink cocoa." Helen: "Now, sweetie, there's nothing to worry about." (door slams) "Looters!" ---- Outpost Daria: Your Online Database for All Things Daria! http://systech.simplenet.com/daria/

Martin J. Pollard wrote:

The IVG's writing is at most rather mild in the `shipping department. Her stories do focus on Trent, but they also do a lot of exploration of the other characters, including (for example) Andrea, Jane, and Jodie. As for the Trent focus, I'll point out that most of the TV show's episodes have had Trent show up (sometimes in a central role); this is impossible to avoid seeing as Trent is both the object of Daria's affections and the brother of her best friend. Anyhow, the InVisigothGypsy handles Trent well; she has a clear understanding of his character (and of the others). Her fanfics are definitely worth reading.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

In article , [email] (JBassior) wrote:

What is this "shipping" stuff? I hear that phrase in discussions of the X-files all the time, too.

Scott

In article ,

I'll hazard a guess and say it's not like that "Kirk and Spock are Gay" thing...

?? Wor-shipping? ??

JBassior wrote in message ...

And I'll point out that most of the show's episodes have NOT had Trent show up ;) Let's look at all the "Daria" available to us thus far: There's the first two seasons (26 eps.), half of season three (6 eps.) and the pilot (1) which make a total of 33 official "Daria's" out at this time. Trent only appears in 16 of them (you can check Martin's handy cast lists if you don't believe me), which is ~48% of the total, or just under half. "Most" meaning "the majority" or "more than half," Trent has not historically appeared "most" of the time.

Well, seeing as they *have* avoided it I wouldn't call it "impossible," but the trend is toward using him more and more. For a comparison, out of the first 17 episodes Trent only appeared in 6, or ~35%. While I'd prefer a frequency back at that level, given his immense marketability it isn't surprising MTV stepped up his appearances (10 out of the last 15, 2/3!) and keeps us awaiting the promised day when they will "address" the burning issue. But they'd better be careful or they'll wear this gag out, as impossible as that may seem right now.

As always -- BB

B. B. England said:

But by your own admission something like half have, and the percentage is steadily rising. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that he's becoming increasingly important in Daria's life.

All of the IVG's fanfics have Trent in them: my point is that they also focus strongly on other characters. They are thus not mere "shipping". And Trent is portrayed as a decent but flawed human being, not some impossible Rock God (Vahallan, maybe?). The kinda guy who I would probably be friends with if he existed in real life and I met him. Not a saint.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

JBassior wrote in message ...

that >he's becoming increasingly important in Daria's life.

Actually, the percentage ISN"T steadily rising, and I never said it was. I must have been unclear -- So I'll try again:

Trent Percentages

Season 1: 5 out of 13, or ~38%

Season 2: 8 out of 13, or ~62% Season 3 (so far): 3 out of 6, or 50%

So he is actually appearing less often now than he did last season, though still more frequently than in s1. A very unsteady increase.

Really though, using these numbers is a misleading indicator of Trent's contact with Daria since it is including episodes: where Trent appears only in a fantasy, #213 which are themselves basically fantasies, #303 which never have D & T meet, #112, #208 which dot not have Trent speak more than a single line, #208, #301 etc.

The number of episodes in which Daria & Trent spend any legnth of time together, or even exchange sentences, is small. Even more so if you look at it as a percentage of the total number of eps made. It's hard to see how to derive the claim that Trent's "increasingly important in Daria's life" from these stats, though it may nonetheless be true. ISTM that the fairest thing to say is that her romanticised vision of Trent, the mental image which is the reality of her "crush," is increasingly important to her life despite, or perhaps because of, her very limited contact with the "real," physical Trent who, at 21, lives at home and sleeps all day, can't tell a record from the radio, and makes such beautiful music: "Ow, my nose! Ow, my face! Owww!"

Hey, what do you have against saints? They're not such bad people.

As always -- BB

Tara wrote:

I'll basically second that. The IVG's a really talented writer, especially for her age (she's only 17), and if you go to her site you should also check out her poetry and her non-fan fiction. She's also a really nice person.

You should also check out C. E. Forman's writings. Both fanfic universes stick pretty closely to the characterizations established in the show, without doing much violence to the basic dramatic situation.

Michelle Klein-Hass has written some good Daria fanfics too. She's excellent as a writer. Her story universe (the "Lawndale CT continuum") projects the series into the future; stuff happens that they probably won't ever put on the show. It's very well done, though, and well worth reading.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

On 26 Mar 1999 02:08:59 GMT, [email] (JBassior) wrote:

And nobody mentions Paperpusher's stuff? I enjoyed "Mirror, Mirror" immensely (you don't even have to have seen the Star Trek ep to enjoy it; I didn't). I also enjoyed the others, though it's been a while since I read them. My only complaint was that the titles were a little lame, and it wasn't until some late night when I was bored and looking for a fanfic, ANY fanfic, and actually decided to read "Mirror Mirror." Seeing how well done it was, I then moved on to "Her, uh, Cane," (a title I'd previously avoided), then moved onto the rest of them. They're quite good.

I liked some of IV's stuff, but some of it was just, bad, though, once again, I can't remember why...

Anybody want to start a regular fanfic discussion schedule? Say, we decide on a relatively complete fanfic site. (The "Daria Fanfiction Site" would be a logical choice, but I don't think the site is updated very often. Outpost Daria has a pretty complete compilation, but I think Invisigoth Gypsy's fics aren't listed there. Anybody have any ideas?) Then, once or twice a week, we read one off the alphabetical order list. This would actually force me to read those fics that aren't in teleplay form; I have difficulty getting in to those.

This way, those of you who don't currently have access to the new eps could actually participate in an on-topic discussion. Any takers? (Or have you all been there, done that?)

On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 12:22:13 GMT, [email] (Tarvok) wrote:

You can thank Rowena Stubbs for that. I inherited the Planet Daria fanfic collection from her. :-)

One of them is: "The Rain Falls Mainly on Jane Lane." Mainly because I think it's her best fic, and doesn't fall victim to the Daria/Trent cliche (and yes, I know that IVG is a 'shipper). I've been reading her "Disney World" series, and though the Daria/Trent and Jesse/Jane "things" permeate it, I have to admit that it's getting pretty complex as of part five. I just hope that, in the end, Sandi The Bitch gets the come-uppance she so richly deserves. :-)

Of course, I'd not turn away anything she'd care to submit -- unless it crosses the boundaries of PG-13 and/or good taste -- but I get the feeling she prefers to keep control of her fanfic universe, which is cool by me. I can respect that.

Martin (to send E-mail, remove the "nospam" from my E-mail address) ---- Quinn: "When they got nervous, they'd drink cocoa." Helen: "Now, sweetie, there's nothing to worry about." (door slams) "Looters!" ---- Outpost Daria: Your Online Database for All Things Daria! http://systech.simplenet.com/daria/

Tarvok said:

Hilarious concept, and story. I mentioned Forman, Klein-Hass, and the IVG because I think their stuff is technically very well written and shows a good grasp of the characters. I don't think Paperpusher's as good by those criteria.

I could probably think of a few other writers or fanfics I really liked, if I bent my mind to the task. The "Twilight Zone" crossover, with the alternate evil Daria, comes to mind.

Sincerely Yours, Jordan

[email] (Tarvok) wrote:

The titles were lame on purpose. The whole idea is to try to write a title that fits on the screen in that big script that they use. The last one was a play on the phrase "Frequent Flyer Miles..." <g> but it wouldn't fit on a screen, though... never mind. Ah, titles, schmitles.

Mirror Mirror was based on a lame attempt to use the gag "Fire Lane." There was a Penny, where was Fire? <g> It was also a bit of a satire on some of the crossovers done as well. It's not my best work by far, but I had fun with it.

I haven't had time to write any more because I'm working on some of my "other stuff" with a co-conspirator. That, and it takes a LOT of time to code it all into HTML. Oh yeah, I'm lazy, too. <g>

rich

no sig-- on the road.

On Thu, 25 Mar 1999 00:17:33 GMT, [email] wrote:

Yay! I already got my homework done! At least half of it, that is. ;)

And the other half... I don't know. I think that's a little unfair. Perhaps one could write about certain qualities one likes, and doesn't like, to see in a fanfic, but as to the worst fanfic ever? I'd have to _read_ the bad ones, which wouldn't be fun. ;p Plus, unlike the creators of the show, who get _paid_ for this, I don't think it's fair to those that just do it for fun.

Needless to say, any episode where the various characters randomly (and out of character) decide to have sex with each other is bad in my book. I just can't see Daria doing that (at least, not the one in the "real" Dariaverse. ;)

I _am_, however, considering writing up a list ranking the best of them. Preference for screenplay style, and situations that could actually fit in the "real" Dariaverse preffered as well, though well done fantasies (like "TWTSB" and "Mirror Mirror") are good as well.

come now, I know you're all more HONEST than THAT...."Well, i like ALL of THEM but not the ones with <b> SEX </b> because I like stories that're wholesome and cater to the all expecting aficianados of fanfic-land!"

COME ON....someone just HAS to have an opinion, unlike some of those who replied here. Some of the things I've read all look the same. Is it just me, or do some of you have the personalities of Automatic Teller Machines?

[email] wrote:

I think everyone here (with the exception of certain trolls) is very honest. If they don't like the fanfics with sex then that's how they feel. Just because you want to read about Daria, Trent, Mack, Kevin, Ms. Barch, Sandi, Ms. Li and Robert (the "yes, ma'am" guy) in a wild drunken orgy, and no one else agrees with you, doesn't make their opinion less valid.

And you have all the wit of Jesse (the "You Can Be a VJ" loser).

and you posess the personality of a cucumber...and not even a fresh one. Don't feel too bad, though, the Daleks were organic beings.

[email] wrote: (snip)

Wow, seems we have two of a kind. I know! I think I'll introduce them.

Q�0, amossmith. amossmith, Q�0.

Eeewwww...they seem to be mating. Perhaps introducing them wasn't such a good idea.

On Mon, 29 Mar 1999 02:07:17 GMT, some letters randomly coalesced from individual pixels, claiming to be from [email], and it said:

... and your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!