I have to confess I haven't been keeping up with this lately because I'm working my tail off to write fanfiction.

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm writing fanfiction. I'm thinking it's time to suggest an emoticon of a paper bag over a face. Just sayin'.

I actually wrote some fanfiction for Heroes a couple years back, and you can see it in the link to your left that says "Fanfic". That is a link to my fanfiction.net page. Don't get me wrong. I know that a lack of quality is an issue there, but I refuse to put fanfiction into my portfolio on this site. While a lot of things about this site are no longer sacred, I still refuse to taint the site with fanfic. So I post it elsewhere. Anyway, when the WGA strike landed, I lost interest in the fandom and proceeded to occupy my time in other ways. All was going well until I saw Star Trek. Lord have mercy. I'm writing fanfic again.

I've actually been talking about this project with Robert Waltz . The story that's been occupying my time lately centers around activities on a starbase that are loosely connected to events in a story I've been writing since June (but have set aside to work on this little offshoot). Truth be told, I've been hesitant to really discuss it because of the characters that take the spotlight in this story, specifically the reason they're the main characters. So this entry will mostly likely sway between me talking about the story and my opinions on writing fanfiction in general.

I admit I'm still a bit of a snob and look down on fanfiction in general.Why? Well, there's no respect given for original characters. Don't get me wrong. I know all about the Mary Sue (and variants) issue and recognize that a lot of people who write fanfiction tend to be crappy writers. At the same time, I've come across some really good fanfics, and I know that there are professional writers in the Daria fandom. Still. I think fanfic is a time waster. An entertaining time waster but one nonetheless. Did I also mention that when I read fanfic, I tend to read quite a few stories of the porny kind? Yeah. (Ironically, I don't write it. I can write sex scenes but don't particularly enjoy doing so on a regular basis.)

On top of that, fandom misuses the word angst like it's nobody's business. Guys, I wrote an article on angst! It's right here! "Drama Newsletter (July 9, 2008)"  What many call angst is just regular old drama and conflict. Plain and simple. That conflict, though, is one of my favorite things in fanfiction. I can read happy, fluffy pieces and appreciate them for what they are. The same goes for porn. However, I live for the heartwrenching conflicts and moral ambiguity that only true clashes and insurmountable odds can provide. I actually have come across some stories where that type of tension has overwhelmed me, but those occasions are very few and far between. When I do find these fanfics, I admit I tend to enjoy them more than completely original stories of a similar nature. it's usually because those who write solid stories with lots of tension tend to be more well rounded and more experienced writers. Those types are hard to find no matter where you look.

Needless to say, I find myself sort of writing that kind of story in this offshoot from the larger project (which is more along the lines of a suspense thriller, which isn't too far out of my range). There is tension, conflict and a more serious tone. But it is also an exploration of a relationship reaching its pinnacle level: marriage. But getting to that point has been far from easy for the pair in question. I'm not entirely inclined to discuss the pair at great length because Robert Waltz and I disagree on on it (although we both agree that shipping the Kirk and Spock from this timeline just won't work, so don't ask). However, a lot of wiggle room was given in the movie for the couple at the center of my story, and they are ultimately at the center of a conspiracy that fuels my main story and provides a challenge in the piece that I'm currently working to finish.

Needless to say, I'm nine kinds of worried about this story, which I'm stupidly going to make available for public consumption before the month is over. Besides this story basically being a public confession of my favorite part of the damn movie (in retrospect), I have other worries. Do I make their voices sound true without overdoing it on the catchphrases? Will my incorporation of other Star Trek canon characters work in the context of this story? Will people see my original characters as full realized people and not self inserts (which I've been lucky enough to largely avoid)? Fanfic can be a dicey line to walk, but I do it, anyway. I'd ask myself why, but I don't think I really want to know the answer.

On that note, I'd like to leave you with a link to a story I happened to find not too long ago and can't help but adore. It pretty much embodies the tension/conflict side of writing in general that I crave but almost never get.

http://ceres-libera.livejournal.com/tag/switch

I think that's all I need to say about that.


 

A link!

http://notalwaysright.com/klingon-to-the-hope-of-a-ticket/2460

On a more serious note, I've been pondering the idea of how a present day society can affect the development of a science fiction story. Oddly enough, this train of thought was inspired by the description of a hypospray. More links! (I love you, Memory Alpha.)

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Hypospray

I saw on another page where someone described it as being like an aerosol. This got me to thinking if it was designed to operate in a similar manner to aerosol cans. If so, would the hypospray of the 1960s have been designed with CFCs in mind? It's hard to say without digging through the archives to find and crew commentary from that time which would shed light on the subject. Given that a more ecofriendly propellant wasn't introduced until the mid 90s, it's pretty likely that the hypospray in TOS would have been designed to use CFC as its propellant. This means the hypospray would have to undergo another design change in order to make sense to present day audiences that are used to not having CFC products around in large quantities.

So what does a hypospray have to do with the development of a science fiction story? The CFC hyposprays were designed from the mind frame of what technology was available back in the 60s. A hypospray created in this decade would be designed to use an HFA propellant due to the lovely Montreal Protocol basically put the kibosh on CFCs for medical use. This little detail is the culmination of years of scientific research that ended up altering various technological developments. As humanity further explores the sciences, more developments would occur that can change any number of elements of a science fiction story.

Such developments are not restricted to the sciences. Social changes can affect the development of technologies or even plotlines for sci-fi. Generally speaking, the more suppressive/repressive the change, the more it will affect a story. This is pretty obvious, but it does lead to an interesting question. What if certain shows had been developed at different times? For example, what would Doctor Who be like if the show had been developed a decade earlier or later? Would Heroes have had altruistic characters like Peter Petrelli if it had been pitched in 1999? Would the original incarnation of Star Trek have been set in the 24th century if it was airing today due to the somewhat slow development of space travel technology over the past couple decades? No one can really know the answers, but if we were to look at the technologies available, the social mores and what was known about scientific areas of concentration we could make some fabulous guesses.

So...anyone want to take a stab at it? I'll be sure to share my thoughts in future entries.


 

Heroes is starting back up on the 21st, so why am I less than enthused

I've noticed a couple things over the past couple years. First, I keep stumbling upon sci-fi fandoms filled with vocal women. Second, whenever I'm in these fandoms, the discussions about women in the TV show/movie/whatever always seem to find me. I never go actively looking for them. I'm thankful I haven't heard about it as much with Star Trek. With all that said, I think it's time for me to admit something. One of the reasons I gravitate to sci-fi shows is because it's mostly men. If that actually surprises any of you, first off I'd be amazed. Second, well, let's take a look at all the factors.

For starters, most female characters written for the screen don't translate on the screen. Why's that? Well, as I said in my For Authors newsletter a month or so ago, it's a combination of audience perception and the writer's depiction of female characters. The problem with something the screen, though, is that the actor has a lot to do with it. Actors of both sexes get typecast, but it's trickier for women to overcome that. I'm not saying it's impossible. It's just that women don't get as many chances to break molds that might be made for them earlier in their careers. I'm really tempted to use Megan Fox as an example, although calling her an actress seems a bit insulting to thespians across the globe, both alive and dead. It's also tempting to use Zoe Saldana as an example, but I don't think Ribit would let me hear the end of it if I did. Anyway, the typecasting can come about in myriad ways, but the biggest blow is rendered when a young actress gets cast in a badly written role that she can't make work to her advantage. If word of that gets out, you might as well pack it up and call it a day. When female characters are not written well, it takes a confident and skilled actress to make it work. That sort...is hard to find (especially these days). It doesn't help that this problem comes up pretty often in sci-fi. It certainly doesn't appear in all of it, to be sure, but it seems to stick out a lot more in sci-fi, from what I've seen.

What else? Obviously, I like men. By like, I mean I would kill myself if I was thrown into a sorority house. Anytime I hear about a study that suggests the Y chromosome is fading away, I am thankful I will be dead and gone long before men could possibly become extinct. And since sci-fi tends to feature a lot of guys, well, I'm a happy camper. It certainly doesn't hurt that sci-fi these days has plenty of males that are very easy on the eyes (but are a little more taxing on the salivary glands). It sounds shallow (and is, in some ways). However, I much prefer male characters, as they're much more fascinating to watch unfold on the screen. I wouldn't say they're more emotionally layered or more complicated than women. I just prefer the approach in exploring male characters in TV shows and movies. It feels less obvious, since female characters are expected to be more demonstrative in many ways. There also tends to be more restraint in the storytelling when more male characters are involved, at least from my observation. I sometimes struggle with this sense of restraint, and as someone who is not always outwardly emotional I adore seeing it in my entertainment.

So what does any of this have to do with Star Trek? Well, I saw someone post the other day that (s)he'd like to see more female characters and have them get a decent chunk of screentime in future movies. I have to admit I'd rather not see that. Though I wouldn't call myself a well-versed fan in the shows' many universes, what I've seen leads me to believe that too many female characters would overpower the men. I think the female characters that have been presented have held their own against the many men. I also think that this call for more female characters is a projection of feminist values that may not be true to the timeframe in which the story is set. It could be that there aren't more women showcased in Starfleet because they have powerful positions on Earth or their respective planets (such as T'Pau). I'm just sayin'. On top of that, the men on that show/movie (this is hard to keep organized) have a surprisingly strong tendency to be emotionally demonstrative, albeit in a variety of ways. Bones is the most obvious example of this, and I think this aspect of his personality is the reason a good number of female fans gravitate to him. That's not to say the others aren't emotional. They just express it in less overt ways (which appeals to my inner emotional detective). I think adding more women to the cast would diminish this experience by a lot, and only one (maybe two) of the men would ultimately be spared. I wish I could articulate this better. I really do. I just think that feminists tend to miss the point in these matters. Representation does NOT equal realistic depiction. You better recognize. And in something like Star Trek that is so rooted in character development, adding more women in prominent roles would be more of a risk than it's worth.

Which reminds me. Claire is gonna make me wanna vomit this season. I got a spoiler that really grossed me out, but I'll save it for later. And why did I jump from Star Trek to Heroes? You'll see later.


 

I come with a link and some videos! First, thank you to Robert Waltz for this one.

http://www.fmylife.com/miscellaneous/4774065

I've always joked about how Tim Kring needed to make sure everything in the pilot script was spellchecked, including the title. Given that 'o' and 'p' are right next to each other on the keyboard, well there you go.

And now, videos! I posted these in my journal before, but they're worth showing again. Especially since Karl Urban is involved.







I'll be presenting more recent discussions in my next blog entry. Hooray!


 

See previous recap entry for disclaimer. Thank you kindly!

Uh, actually I did. Did what, you ask? Break down and finally buy this book.

ASIN: 1439171254 Star Trek Movie Tie-In     Product Type: Book          List Price: $ 25.00          Amazon's Price: $ 25.00 Buy Now!

**NOTE: If a recap is for an episode during the current season, I will use popnotes. Otherwise, all the text will be presented. I figure if it's been a year, there's been enough time for the spoilers to be a moot point.**

I don't give a flying rat's rear what anybody says. Tonight, I'm going to flat out be a Heroes dork. Between this week's episode and next week's preview, my brain is close to imploding on itself. I mean, seriously. This week saw Claire, Matt, Ted and HRG in a major showdown. Talk about a tetrafecta of holy canoli! Finding out about HRG's past (including his former partnership with Claude) was cool, and an early glimpse at the Nakamuras makes me wonder how Yamagato Industries plays into all this. And then there was Matt somewhat redeeming himself in my eyes. The whole diamonds thing still galls me, but he made a valiant effort to keep Ted from going nuclear, and it almost worked had Thompson not shot it all to hell. Dumbass. Anyway, so there was Ted's explosion and Claire's bravery, which was jaw droppingly awesome. Then of course was the end of the ep. That was heartbreaking. It really was. Don't worry. I didn't cry over it, but I felt pain for everyone involved, including the Haitian. The whole scene was also a bit hari-kari in nature, with HRG sacrificing himself for his family. And of course you wonder what's going to happen to Claire, the Haitian and Matt. I imagine good ol' Ted will be under sedation for a very long time.

Next week, though? Fasten your seatbelts. We meet Mr. Linderman, Mohinder and, er, 'Sylar' return to New York, Simone seemingly rises from the dead, Nathan punches Niki/Jessica (yay!) and on top of it all, the first official Peter/Sylar showdown (not counting episode 9). What an ep! I've seen two previews, which is how I deduced all this.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J6MacHEw9Yk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=awgvpVvrVjU&mode=related&search=

I personally prefer the second one, as there are clues that there might be opportunities for chemistry between Peter and Mohinder. I mean, they've been separated for a few eps and have changed quite a bit due to their experiences. Plus, Sylar's involved, and in the second preview, Mohinder pulls a gun. Me = about that. I honestly think he's going to shoot Sylar. Maybe he'll do it to stop Sylar from killing Peter. That would make me cheer something fierce. Of course, that scream at the end of the preview sounds like Peter, so who knows? All I can tell is that Peter and Sylar face off in Mohinder's apartment. Now my question is how the hell are they going to end up there? Seems like slash fodder to me. There's probably a perfectly innocent reason as well, but still. I'm sure Peter will have something to say about Mohinder and Sylar's cross country roadtrip. After all, it takes a while to get to friggin Montana, of all places. And considering Peter and Sylar have encountered each other before without really knowing it...yeah, baby! This could get all sorts of interesting. I'm totally on it. Of course, next week will totally kick my butt with the Miami Film Festival, but that's for another entry. Maybe I'll talk about it on Friday. In any case, I have to work on Monday...but is it Monday yet? I totally wish I had TiVo capabilities so I could get my fix right after work if needed. I mean, guh. So yeah, is it Monday yet? I need a Heroes like you wouldn't believe. As I told Chuck, Heroes is crack to me.


 

In "Have Something To Say...?"  [GC], I made a joke to Still Here & Missing U about sending a Sarah Palin-esque Borg creature after someone in her life who's given her quite a hard way to go. Well, Mark (as in Mark ) jumped in at one point and provided the following gem of a line.

(originally appeared in "Chalice of Malice"  [XGC] on 1/31/2007)

Alrighty, I know I'm trying not to fangirl too much regarding Heroes, but there's an issue that keeps entering the show's forums. What is it?

gay characters

Despite my (waning) homophobia, here's what I have to say about gay characters.

Why are you people bitching?

Yes, people have been bitching about there being gay characters on the show. In fact, creator Tim Kring has outright stated one of the main characters (presumably a Hero) is gay. Who is it, exactly? No one really knows at this point, and I'll get back to that in a minute. Anyway, this came up because Zach (Claire's only true friend) was created as a gay character. From what I could tell, the writers did a pretty good job of avoiding typical gay stereotypes. So, I really didn't think anything of it. Then I got to the message boards.

Holy s***.

I've never seen so many raving lunatics since the first three days of the year. There are so many people that protested both the appearance of a gay character on the show and, a little later, protests against NBC for turning Zach straight. As it turns out, it was Thomas Dekker's management team that played into the sudden "straightening" of Zach. (FYI, Thomas Dekker is the guy who plays Zach, but due to a role on another TV program, he's going to be off the show at least for a while.) Here's my thing. First of all, while homosexuality is not my cup of tea, I can deal with gay characters in a TV show. Why? Well, it's not real for one thing. Second, denying that gay people exist is a grand example of showing your head up your rear and hooking yourself up to an oxygen tank via your navel.

Besides, homosexuality adds a complication element that is unique unto itself. Yeah, it's taboo, but that's not it, really. Gay characters tap into our protective instincts when portrayed right. I find myself more enchanted when it's two men involved, but it can work for women. Then again, that could be my preference for males shining through. In any case, regardless of the characters engaging in any physical contact, the odds they face tend to be more challenging than heterosexual couples who "shouldn't" be together for whatever reason. As the gay taboo begins to erode away, it's something of modern society's Romeo and Juliet (which, by the way, is an awful play. If he wasn't already dead, I'd shoot Shakespeare for it.). This sense of protecting both yourself and the one you love can be manifest in a wide range of emotions, ranging from tenderness to vengeance. I've also concluded that the protective instincts tend to come from both parties. One thing I hate about heterosexual love stories is that it tends to only show one person being protective, which is both boring and leads to flat characterization. It's formulaic, while gay love stories, curiously enough, have a little more wiggle room.

That said, which a show like Heroes, homosexual dynamics would fit surprisingly well with the stakes as they are. Aside from the fact there are more guys in the cast, the need to protect people both with and without powers is a huge theme of the show. With the way the show is progressing, there are some people that are more vulnerable than others. Opportunity knocks, and I don't doubt that Kring sees that. So, who is gay? Among the Heroes, there's some debate. Among the main characters (including those without powers), one seems to be emerging as the most likely to end up with homosexual leanings. I apologize in advance for any spoilers or if I alter your view of the show. It's all speculation at this point. Anyway, who do I think it is?


Mohinder.


Yeah, I know. He is my favorite character, but after watching (and rewatching) some of the more recent episodes, most of the evidence points to him. The most recent episode is my favorite example (although I do need to rewatch "One Giant Leap", because I need to compare a few things). There's a scene in which he and Nathan go to Peter's apartment to try to stop him from running off to Nevada. At one point, Peter wants to talk to Nathan alone, so he dismisses Mohinder with this really sharp look in his eyes. When they cut to Mohinder...it's all about the look on his face. If you watch the episode online, this scene is in part four. Play it until the little timer says 1:02. This is really the best place to see what I'm talking about when it comes to facial expressions. It's mostly in the eyes, but shock dominates all of his facial features. And let's not even get started on the outfit. Between the pink shirt and that damn scarf, I surrender. I have no comments for it. It's just beyond words. Then again, Mohinder's wardrobe merits a whole separate venue for discussion because it is clearly the most varied out of all the characters, which I find rather strange. Speaking of strange, "Seven Minutes Till Midnight" provides something of a glimpse into Mohinder's past, most notably introducing us to Mira, an ex-lover and someone who tore into Papa Suresh's theories. Judging by the way the two scenes involving Mira played out, Mohinder showed almost no love for Mira. She seemed to still care about him, but he was civilly cold toward her.

This may not say much about his sexuality, depending on your point of view. It is interesting, though, in regards to seeing how he handles relationships. At one point in "Seven", he makes a comment about America being a strange country due to everyone being "so lonely", yet what does he do? He runs right back to New York! He strikes me as the lonliest character in the whole show, especially with Eden being dead. I admit I'm not sure about his interaction with Eden, other than their kiss being a ploy. HRG says that Eden seemed to like him, but it never struck me as reciprocal on a romantic level. I think he regarded her as a friend and an ally, nothing more. If anything, he seems most influenced by Peter (sorry, Mark, but I call 'em as I see 'em). Though he is icy cold to Peter early in the series, there's a turn somewhere that brings Peter back under his scope big time. Now he regards Peter as the most important person on the list, and he's pinning all his hopes on one guy. I think his first attempt to talk to Nathan (forget which exact ep) shows his beginning to wonder, but he denies it in order to go back to India. Still, his behavior around Peter combined with his perceptions of the man show both his emerging belief and his emotionally volatility. I think Mohinder has the most to lose, and he's the most likely to combust from emotional pressure: jealousy of the Petrelli brothers (which made an appearance in the most recent ep), frustration in his scientific quest and a lot of baggage from his past. You want to talk about a walking time bomb. Mohinder is it. And why do I think he's fixated on Peter? Because Peter is tender and protective, really the perfect gay character. He is really the only hero at this point that has shown any ability to cut through the emotional walls Mohinder has constructed. Do I think they'll get together? Eh, I don't know. I think it's too early to tell. I think Mohinder will struggle with that pesky heart-tugging sickness called unrequited love for a good while (at least a good ways into season 2).

Of course the wild card is whether or not Mira will reenter the fold. That would makes things an even bigger mess.