gensplosion | Entries tagged with canon reinterpretation

FANDOM: Sherlock Holmes (Downey films)
FIC LINK: Two Shoes for a Hat
AUTHOR LINK:

rachelindeed
RATING/WARNING(S): Gen | none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 2,400
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, (Mike Stamford)

FIC SUMMARY: They have a barter system. It started early.

RECCER'S NOTES:
Almost every version of Sherlock Holmes has its version of the first meeting of Watson and Holmes, and this, as far as I am concerned, is the definitive Ritchieverse canon. The distinctive voice and manner of this universe's Holmes and Watson are captured perfectly, yet somehow it also carries the feelling of the original stories. An all-round delightful fic.

And since in some timezone it's still technically my birthday, and the sun will burn cold before I ever finish a fanwork before the deadline, I thought I'd gift fic recs instead. So! I have an Access database, an obsessive mindset, and far too much free time. Until I get bored or you do, I and they are at your disposal. Ask away!

( Fandoms behind the cut )

longlivehumour

FANDOM: Fullmetal Alchemist
FIC LINK: Vincible Ignorance
AUTHOR LINK:

maryh10000
RATING/WARNING(S): G | Major spoilers for the end of the manga / FMAB
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 463
MAIN CHARACTERS: Mrs Bradley

FIC SUMMARY: Of course she had loved him. How could she not? He was the Fuhrer...

RECCER'S NOTES: This is that rare fic that can change your perspective on a character while never once altering the facts. A very thought-provoking and slightly chilling piece.

longlivehumour

FANDOM: Blake's 7
FIC LINK: What Might Have Been
AUTHOR LINK:

firerose (own site | AO3)
RATING/WARNING(S): G, Pre-Way Back
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 6,500 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Roj Blake, Kerr Avon

FIC SUMMARY: Blake struggles with fundamental questions of trust, friendship and political ideology in the harsh environment of the Earth domes.

RECCER'S NOTES: In honour of my first post, here is the first fanfic I ever read. Ten years (!) and several thousand fics later, it still stands as one of my all-time favourites. Blake's voice comes alive when he talks politics; Avon is simultaneously a very different person and very much himself. Life in the domes is described in elegant detail, and while it might not be correct to call it a thriller there's an undercurrent of tension to every scene. While still being canon-compliant, the story puts a very different spin on Avon and Blake's relationship, and it packs a hell of a punch. I hope it'll stick in your head the way it did in mine.

Current Mood: feeling old

dirty_diana

FANDOM: Star Trek AOS
FIC LINK: Under the Shadow of This Red Rock
AUTHOR LINK: fictional-clue
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen/none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete/29 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: James T. Kirk, Spock, background Spock/Uhura

FIC SUMMARY: Only a few days have passed since Nero destroyed Vulcan and attacked Earth, but the world around Jen and Spock is already changing along strange new lines—and they are caught right in the middle. Neither of them really has their shit together, but between the two of them they’re making it work. The ship’s still running. They haven’t tried to kill each other again. It’s a start.

RECCER'S NOTES:

I'm going to try not start too many posts with epic definitions of gen? But since the author has tagged this one "pre-slash", I should probably mention that I am one of those pedants who doesn't believe there to be any such thing. (Especially in the historical context of Kirk&Spock fandom.) But ymmv. What this fic is, imo, is a great fill-in-the-blanks fic for the Enterprise's trip home at the end of Star Trek XI, as Jen Kirk and Spock struggle with a broken ship, traumatised Vulcans, and other challenges.

It is also a great genderswap fic, and as such salacious gossip blog rumours become one of the plot points. But no one finds that more ridiculous than Jen and Spock, quite frankly. Their reactions are hilarious, and the banter is lots of fun.

“Acting Captain Kirk has been performing her duties in a laudable manner,” Spock says, with no inflection whatsoever.

“No, I mean, how do you and Captain Kirk get along?” the guy pushes.

“Our interactions are satisfactory,” Spock replies, and his voice says whereas your question is stupid.

Jen affixes a smile to her face.

espresso_addict

FANDOM: Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare)
FIC LINK: Nothing But One of Your Nine Lives
AUTHOR LINK:

russian_blue
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen | Character death
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | ~1800 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Tybalt

FIC SUMMARY: Tybalt has a secret.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is a perfect example of the 'crack premise taken straight' micro-genre. Tybalt, 'Prince of Cats', inexplicably finds he can't die. His evolving reactions to his situation feel very believable, from questioning the philosophical implications to finding a reason to wish to continue living. Russian Blue uses his series of 'deaths' to paint a vivid picture of Verona before and during the play. Though the premise is dark, there's a ray of hope for him at the end that the play doesn't offer.

espresso_addict

FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Changeling
AUTHOR LINK:

lydiabennet
RATING/WARNING(S): PG | No author warnings; dark
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | 2,000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Fred Weasley, Weasley family

FIC SUMMARY: Fred wants a dog, and he'll do anything to get one. Anything at all.

RECCER'S NOTES: I recommended this back in 2006 in my first flush of HP enthusiasm and I've been plugging it everywhere since, not only as one of the more original stories I've encountered in the HP fandom but also as a prime example that gen need never mean dull. It's a creepy short story that slips seamlessly into canon and could easily have been written by Rowling, yet it changes everything. The whole Weasley family is characterised perfectly through the young Fred's eyes, from the mother he barely hears to the paragon elder brothers he doesn't want to emulate. Unlike many older stories, it only gains extra impact from the events of Deathly Hallows.

espresso_addict

FANDOM: Harry Potter
FIC LINK: Dumbledore, or The Magical Prometheus
AUTHOR LINK:

marginaliana
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13 | 'Not a happy piece. Spoilers for HBP.' Darkfic.
WIP?/WORD COUNT: Complete | ~900 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape

FIC SUMMARY: Dumbledore does the unthinkable to create the perfect spy. Things don't go as planned.

RECCER'S NOTES:

Signing in as your second (& sluggish) Gensploder for June. I'm going to try to highlight a range of fandoms, some big, some tiny. Hopefully there'll be something for all tastes.

A powerful look at the relationship between Dumbledore & Snape through the lens of the wonderful crossover premise that Dumbledore created a Frankensnape to be his spy. The metaphor works as an excellent character study of the darker side to Dumbledore, willingly sacrificing those whose lives must be rendered to the cause, unable to love without manipulating. It's also a thoughtful coming-of-age story for the Creature. Canon events are deftly reinterpreted, and the ending is chillingly inevitable.

gensplosion!

Entries tagged with canon reinterpretation

Sherlock Holmes (2009): Two Shoes for a Hat, by rachelindeed + rec requests

fullmetal alchemist: Vincible Ignorance, by maryh10000

Blake's 7: What Might Have Been, by Firerose

Star Trek AOS: Under the Shadow of this Red Rock, by fictional-clue

Romeo and Juliet: Nothing But One of Your Nine Lives, by Russian Blue

Harry Potter: Changeling, by lydiabennet

Harry Potter: Dumbledore, or The Magical Prometheus, by marginaliana

The Espresso Addict