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[merylmarie]

Just read the very good article by Lev Grossman about fanfic in the current Time Magazine, "The Boy Who Lived Forever." For those of you on my Flist who didn't see it posted by baranduin, here's the link:

If authorship is no longer the exclusive domain of the gods, it's no longer the exclusive domain of authors either. There may be hurt in that, but there

Comments

[baranduin]

I loved that line! He was so clever to work that in since he talked a bit about the h/c genre.

[merylmarie]

He's one smart cookie, and it's so nice to have a fellow feeling for someone writing on a subject that's so easy to belittle.

[gilli_ann]

Interesting and insightful - the first really *knowledgable* and balanced mainstream article I think I've read about fanfic. Thank you for linking it! :)

[merylmarie]

You're welcome! It was nice to read something intelligent and even respectful on the subject.

[gentlehobbit]

It's a great article, isn't it! I feel as if I've finally found something that can explain to those not in the know what it's all about.

[merylmarie]

Exactly! A good resource when needed.

[oselle]

I think this is the second time Lev Grossman has written favorably about fanfiction -- I'm pretty sure he was the writer who called it (without a trace of a smirk) "a literary form in its own right" a few years ago.

I have to give the man kudos for the depth of his research. If he knows about things like mpreg, h/c, genderswap, he either got down in the trenches himself, or had some very good tour guides.

[merylmarie]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the feeling he's written it or enjoyed reading it as part of a fandom or both. If not, then he gets points for appreciating that spark that makes people write fanfiction without indulging in snickering.

I read his review of the latest book in the "Game of Thrones" series and am now excited to get started on the books myself. There's something about a nice long series of fat tomes to look forward to that makes my long, hot summer look a lot better. :))

[oselle]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the feeling he's written it or enjoyed reading it as part of a fandom or both.

I agree. He doesn't talk about it like an observant outsider or an anthropologist, he talks like someone who's been on the inside. He talks about it like one of us.

I recently discovered a series of YA novels, The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. Teenage witches in Victorian England -- deliciously trashy!! I think that's going to be MY summer reading.

[merylmarie]

He talks about it like one of us.

Exactly. Or maybe not quite. I tend to be a lot snarkier. :D

Teenage witches in Victorian England? Methinks it's got legs!

[aliensouldream]

Thanks very much for the link. My feelings on this are different (ie I don't like it, its creepy stalking) but I am glad to hear what you guys think and can understand why it might be refreshing to have fandom given some credit.

[merylmarie]

Thanks for your comment. Fanfiction being such a huge body of material, I agree that "creepy stalking" might apply to some of it. But it's good to know that sincere offshoots can be acknowledged, too.