|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:30 pm
This is me being mostly curious but what do you people think when it comes to Alternate Universes in Fanfiction?
Do you enjoy reading or writing about your favorite characters in a different world with different roles, where they keep some of the same personality qualities but rather than growing up as a detective they are a prince? Or battle robots as part of a sci-fi? Or perhaps something set in a steampunk setting. Or maybe they just fall randomly into another world and end up stuck?
Doesn't necessarily have to be a cross over... it can be something that was created from their/your own imagination and is different from what you see your favorite characters normally doing.
I've noticed that most fanfiction I've read don't usually change all that much from the basic setting they started with. Sure, their professions change or perhaps their reasons for doing things are different or the storyline is tweaked to suit the writers ideas but I rarely see a full fledged AU where things are completely flipped around.
When I do find them I realize I really enjoy them. A lot. I like seeing ones that take place in a different setting and they are living their lives very differently than in their original universe. But they also keep the same familiarity because they are still a mystery buff, they still have a bad sense of style, they are still loud and obnoxious. They retain what makes them.... them.
In short, do any of you enjoy reading / writing AU? If so, what kinds? If not, why is that?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:18 pm
The thing with AU is that there is very little middle ground with them. The ones that I have read have either been unbelievably spectacular, and fantastic, so great, I j**z my pants just reading it due to the sheer dynamic and clever world. Or, are so abysmally bad it have to fight not to projectile vomit all over my computer and I can't click away from it fast enough.
The best AU have fantastic plot and world building and authors put a great deal of effort into making the world fit to the character yet still keeping it distinctly different from the world of the original canon. Bad AUs read like the author just shat it out for giggles and doesn't give a crap about creating a reading experience. They posting '4 da lolz!'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:59 pm
Some of the best fan fictions I've read have been AUs.
I don't usually go for the cliche/overused/childish ones like the nauseatingly common high school AU. Or the Prince/Princess AU (except, I have found a fair few very good fairy tale AUs). Neither am I a big fan of the "real world" AUs, and I absolutely hate the "character is transported to another world" type stories (in my opinion they are not AUs, are obnoxiously gimmicky, and a little annoying).
The best AUs in my opinion, are ones that stay true to the characters to spite the alternate setting. Its just absurd to portray a veteran army doctor and high functioning sociopath in high school. Not because I'm incapable of suspending my disbelief. On the contrary. I am perfectly willing to believe that Scotland Yard would repeatedly contract a 'consulting detective' who constantly insults and belittles the people around him in a way that they don't really even realize they're being belittled but still feel slighted anyway because of the sheer attitude. But I am not willing to believe that said consulting detective and his war vet roommate was attending a high school together along with the captain, medical examiner, main antagonist and fem fatal. That is what's absurd.
What I like in an AU is something with a lot of world building and character development. The world is different from the original canon, but the characters are the same. A good author, writing a good AU not only shows the reader their world and makes them feel emerged in it, but also explains why the characters are the same way they are for reasons that are completely plausible and make sense within the new setting. THAT is the kind of AU I like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:34 pm
Renkon Root The thing with AU is that there is very little middle ground with them. The ones that I have read have either been unbelievably spectacular, and fantastic, so great, I j**z my pants just reading it due to the sheer dynamic and clever world. Or, are so abysmally bad it have to fight not to projectile vomit all over my computer and I can't click away from it fast enough. The best AU have fantastic plot and world building and authors put a great deal of effort into making the world fit to the character yet still keeping it distinctly different from the world of the original canon. Bad AUs read like the author just shat it out for giggles and doesn't give a crap about creating a reading experience. They posting '4 da lolz!' I agree completely with this since it's been my own experience with them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:21 pm
That is so accurate it hurts, Renkon.
I think it really boils down to the writer, the fandom and what kind of AUs would actually fit.
Like Attack on Titan; Teenagers fighting a bloody, constant fighting for life and humanity would go great with a High School or Actor AU. Sure it is cliche but it lets you see the kids trying to be be normal for once.
Not all AUs go with all fandoms.... despite writer's attempts to make them.
However, if the writer is good enough they can pull a surprise out of the hat and make the AU fit the fandom without ruining it. But those tend to be like finding a certain needle in a needle stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 12:56 pm
Black-Kat Jinx TNot all AUs go with all fandoms.... despite writer's attempts to make them. This is very, very true. A glaring example of this is the Prince/Princess AU within the Tim/Kon ship. I'm sorry, but I just cannot suspend my disbelief enough to roll with a story where Tim Drake is a Prince (or Princess if its a gender-bend) of Earth and Kon is a Prince (or Princess of its a gender bend) of Krypton. I'm sorry, but no. Something like that, to me, is unreadable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 12:59 pm
Ren LehCrow What I like in an AU is something with a lot of world building and character development. The world is different from the original canon, but the characters are the same. A good author, writing a good AU not only shows the reader their world and makes them feel immersed in it, but also explains why the characters are the same way they are for reasons that are completely plausible and make sense within the new setting. THAT is the kind of AU I like. This is also what I look for in an AU.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:01 pm
GhostlyWhitePumpkins Renkon Root The thing with AU is that there is very little middle ground with them. The ones that I have read have either been unbelievably spectacular, and fantastic, so great, I j**z my pants just reading it due to the sheer dynamic and clever world. Or, are so abysmally bad it have to fight not to projectile vomit all over my computer and I can't click away from it fast enough. The best AU have fantastic plot and world building and authors put a great deal of effort into making the world fit to the character yet still keeping it distinctly different from the world of the original canon. Bad AUs read like the author just shat it out for giggles and doesn't give a crap about creating a reading experience. They posting '4 da lolz!' I agree completely with this since it's been my own experience with them. There is a Star Wars AU that I love so much I wish it were canon. Its rather long and a bit epic with three parts to it. It posits the scenario of Luke not only turning to the Dark Side, but also (in the third and final Act) succeeding Palpatine and becoming the Emperor. Its so good! Hang on while I dig up the link… [EDIT] The Son of Suns Trilogy by Blank101 Act IAct IIAct III
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:08 pm
Renkon Root Ren LehCrow What I like in an AU is something with a lot of world building and character development. The world is different from the original canon, but the characters are the same. A good author, writing a good AU not only shows the reader their world and makes them feel immersed in it, but also explains why the characters are the same way they are for reasons that are completely plausible and make sense within the new setting. THAT is the kind of AU I like. This is also what I look for in an AU. I have been reading your Dragon Ball AU, Water Sharing. I am loving it! I'd say you do a good job of showing us your world and making it still fit the characters. But your chapters have been very short recently. I miss the longer ones from earlier in the fic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:11 pm
Ren LehCrow Renkon Root Ren LehCrow What I like in an AU is something with a lot of world building and character development. The world is different from the original canon, but the characters are the same. A good author, writing a good AU not only shows the reader their world and makes them feel immersed in it, but also explains why the characters are the same way they are for reasons that are completely plausible and make sense within the new setting. THAT is the kind of AU I like. This is also what I look for in an AU. I have been reading your Dragon Ball AU, Water Sharing. I am loving it! I'd say you do a good job of showing us your world and making it still fit the characters. But your chapters have been very short recently. I miss the longer ones from earlier in the fic. Yeah… I've been getting impatient with my updates recently. The story's so long, I just want to hurry up and finish it, but I can't hurry because there are so many sub-plots to be wrapped up before the end I have to take my time. Its a little frustrating. But I'm glad you're enjoying it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:32 pm
Renkon Root GhostlyWhitePumpkins Renkon Root The thing with AU is that there is very little middle ground with them. The ones that I have read have either been unbelievably spectacular, and fantastic, so great, I j**z my pants just reading it due to the sheer dynamic and clever world. Or, are so abysmally bad it have to fight not to projectile vomit all over my computer and I can't click away from it fast enough. The best AU have fantastic plot and world building and authors put a great deal of effort into making the world fit to the character yet still keeping it distinctly different from the world of the original canon. Bad AUs read like the author just shat it out for giggles and doesn't give a crap about creating a reading experience. They posting '4 da lolz!' I agree completely with this since it's been my own experience with them. There is a Star Wars AU that I love so much I wish it were canon. Its rather long and a bit epic with three parts to it. It posits the scenario of Luke not only turning to the Dark Side, but also (in the third and final Act) succeeding Palpatine and becoming the Emperor. Its so good! Hang on while I dig up the link… [EDIT] The Son of Suns Trilogy by Blank101 Act IAct IIAct IIISadly I don't have the time to dedicate to reading an AU that's that big. o.O This is what happens when you get into college.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:22 pm
My view on AUs is pretty much the same as it is with any other written work. I will enjoy it as long as it is well written and engaging.
One of my favorite fanfictions is a One Piece real world AU. It was also an amnesia story, but both aspects were handled well, there was an intriguing mystery, the characters were expertly portrayed and the over all plot was engaging on a level that is rare for me, even with original books. You could tell the author put a lot of effort and research into writing it.
Having said all that, I don't normally like AUs. Most of the time they are really bad and you can tell the author didn't put any thought into it besides "wouldn't be funny if these characters were in high school, because I'm in high school!"
I don't write them myself. No real reason, I've just never felt the need. I might someday though. I'm usually willing to give anything at least one try, writing and reading wise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:28 am
Aha My view on AUs is pretty much the same as it is with any other written work. I will enjoy it as long as it is well written and engaging. One of my favorite fanfictions is a One Piece real world AU. It was also an amnesia story, but both aspects were handled well, there was an intriguing mystery, the characters were expertly portrayed and the over all plot was engaging on a level that is rare for me, even with original books. You could tell the author put a lot of effort and research into writing it. Having said all that, I don't normally like AUs. Most of the time they are really bad and you can tell the author didn't put any thought into it besides "wouldn't be funny if these characters were in high school, because I'm in high school!" I don't write them myself. No real reason, I've just never felt the need. I might someday though. I'm usually willing to give anything at least one try, writing and reading wise. I have not read/seen much One Piece. But I do love a good story. The AU you described sound interesting. Do you have a link to it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:11 pm
Ren LehCrow Aha My view on AUs is pretty much the same as it is with any other written work. I will enjoy it as long as it is well written and engaging. One of my favorite fanfictions is a One Piece real world AU. It was also an amnesia story, but both aspects were handled well, there was an intriguing mystery, the characters were expertly portrayed and the over all plot was engaging on a level that is rare for me, even with original books. You could tell the author put a lot of effort and research into writing it. Having said all that, I don't normally like AUs. Most of the time they are really bad and you can tell the author didn't put any thought into it besides "wouldn't be funny if these characters were in high school, because I'm in high school!" I don't write them myself. No real reason, I've just never felt the need. I might someday though. I'm usually willing to give anything at least one try, writing and reading wise. I have not read/seen much One Piece. But I do love a good story. The AU you described sound interesting. Do you have a link to it? Sure, here you go. MemoriesIt is a ZoSan, so if that's not really your thing it might be a bit distracting, but I'd still suggest it. You really only need a cursory understanding of the characters, so not being a big fan of the series won't cause any confusion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:29 pm
Aha Ren LehCrow Aha My view on AUs is pretty much the same as it is with any other written work. I will enjoy it as long as it is well written and engaging. One of my favorite fanfictions is a One Piece real world AU. It was also an amnesia story, but both aspects were handled well, there was an intriguing mystery, the characters were expertly portrayed and the over all plot was engaging on a level that is rare for me, even with original books. You could tell the author put a lot of effort and research into writing it. Having said all that, I don't normally like AUs. Most of the time they are really bad and you can tell the author didn't put any thought into it besides "wouldn't be funny if these characters were in high school, because I'm in high school!" I don't write them myself. No real reason, I've just never felt the need. I might someday though. I'm usually willing to give anything at least one try, writing and reading wise. I have not read/seen much One Piece. But I do love a good story. The AU you described sound interesting. Do you have a link to it? Sure, here you go. MemoriesIt is a ZoSan, so if that's not really your thing it might be a bit distracting, but I'd still suggest it. You really only need a cursory understanding of the characters, so not being a big fan of the series won't cause any confusion. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
