Sun 25 Feb 2007
The subject of fan fiction is one I’ve long meant to address in the Fan Column, and at last I’ve come across just the right moment in time to sit down and harp on about it. (Usually the urge to write comes to me when I’m serving customers at work, or cooking dinner or cleaning the loo. Rarely do these inspirations strike when I’m actually surrounded by spare time and wondering what to do with it.)
If you’ve come to this site as a new fan browsing for cast info or hoping for news on a season three, I urge you to take a little detour and delve into some Dark Angel fan fiction. Even if you’re highly sceptical on the validity of fan work, you may be pleasantly surprised to find there are stories out there that can numb the grief in discovering there hasn‘t been, and never will be, a season three for Dark Angel. A few good reads are suggested at the end of this little article. But first, allow me to settle into my rocking chair, tuck the granny blanket around my knees and do a little reminiscing on my own rabbit-hole tumble into fan fiction…
When I first found my way onto a Dark Angel fan site (in search of episode spoilers) and spotted a link to fan fiction, I laughed aloud at the idea of such a thing. It was my earliest foray onto any kind of fan site, and so at that point in time, the thought of writing stories based on a TV series was just a wee bit crazy to me. In fact, the idea of obsessing over a TV show in general was something I thought happened only people in need of intense psychotherapy.
So, I poked around the fansite, checked out what was coming up in the next few episodes (just out of boredom, not because I particularly cared or anything), and completely ignored the ‘fan fiction’ link for a good week or so before a sceptical form of curiosity got the better of me and I found myself back at the site and clicking the link - just for a laugh, of course.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as my family came to view it) I happened to find a really good story. The kind so skilfully written it seemed as if a Dark Angel episode were playing out inside my head. I read fics that captured the psyche of the characters in a way the show itself never could. Stories that filled in the ‘missing scenes’ of episodes I had seen and those I had yet to watch, and in the case of the latter, I was often disappointed when the long-awaited episode finally came on the NZ telly, and wasn’t quite as good as the fan fic based on it. (Somewhat like watching the movie after reading the book.)
Eternity’s “April” gave a new reason for Zack’s stoic personality and emotional suppression. Mystic’s beautiful explorations into pre-escape Manticore gave the characters depth as well as a history I could believe in. The writers of Nuns With Pens persuaded me that Alec made for more than just a great antagonist, Scot Jane’s “Dinner Party Series” made me laugh until I cried, AntipodianOpaleye’s “May Angel’s Lead You In” simply made me cry. And Zeke’s “Contingency Plan” opened my eyes to a whole new interpretation of the runes…
For me, if you haven’t figured it out already, fan fiction was definitely the pivotal ingredient that transformed Dark Angel from a good TV series into an alternate universe in it’s own right. I watched the show, read the books, bought the action figures. But with the show cancelled and no chance of a renewal -ever, Dark Angel would have ended for me there and then had it not been for the fan fiction which kept the post-pulse world alive.
And as long as there are fans out there with the talent to write, it will continue to.
Your thoughts?
If you’re a die-hard fan, I’m curious to know what it was about the show or the fandom which turned you from Casual Fan into a Fan Obsessed? Furthermore, feel free to add to the Suggested Reading by leaving a message in the comment form or emailing me: admin (at) thebrokenworld.org
Suggested Reading
Dark Angel Virtual Season Three - This may well be the closest you’ll get to a third season. VS3 is a very well thought out, cleverly collaborated effort by several fan fiction writers to continue Dark Angel.
Unsatisfactory by Mystic
Before a training mission, Ben ponders whether any of the X5’s are nomalies. (Setting: Manticore 2009)
Cogit Ergo Sum by Mystic
Zack begins to retain knowledge of his former self.(Setting: Summer after Freak Nation)
Drowning by Drea Jackman
Suddenly cast out of the only life he’s ever known, Alec is alone and dealing with it the only way he knows how. But, who’ll be there to throw him a life line when he’s going under?
Thump by Roonblah
First story in the Moon series. Alec is shot in the ass. Who does he go to for help?
Submit a Column?
Fan Columns are articles written by any Dark Angel fan on any characteristic of the show, the fandom, or the cast. They are the opinion of the writer, and an opportunity for fans to share their thoughts on any feature relating to Dark Angel that love, hate, feel inspired by, etc.
If you’d like to write a fan column for TBW, please send it in to admin @ thebrokenworld.org with the subjectline of “Fan Column Submission”.
It is important to ensure your article is checked for correct spelling and grammar.
There are one or two stories I used to follow on Fan Fiction Net but haven’t read fan fic for a long time. Do you have the link to Nuns With Pens? I’ll look at the stories in your list!
Admin’s note: Well, I hope this article inspires you to renew your interest in DA fan fic
. Nuns With Pens can be found at http://nunswithpens.hyperboards.com
Comment by Illigra — March 1, 2007 @ 3:44 am
One day when season 2 started and I wantedto know what would happen in season 3 I went online to search for spoilers, way back in the days that we first had internet.
Through one site and another and a few more clicks I ended up on fanfiction.net and I never left. It was like a whole new world. A world full of possibilites.
I found about fanfiction and forums and with forums came chats and it was like magic. It was fun and amazing that something like a ” fandom” exists and can have so much impact on a person. There were some great times, I will always remember.
Now a few years later it is hard to move on, something keeps pulling me back, mostly for the fanfics that are still coming. The chatting faded, the forums got empty.
Finally I realised that the Dark Angel fandom for me, is like shoes, first you are completely happy you found them, then you just can’t put them aside and in the end you know it’s still there but you move on the new ones but somehow still can’t throw the old ones away.
I miss it, I find it hard to find people leaving and moving on and just dissapearing. So through time I decided that I will keep on reading fanfiction (they are my drugs) but I will not get active in another forum or fandom.
Still I can’t help myself from logging in to a few forums now and then, just to see if maybe someone is still there. I keep loggng in to MSN to find no-one is ever there anymore.
Still I managed to keep in contact with a few online friends, we don’t talk often (or at least not as often I would wish) but it’s nice to catch up even if Dark Angel isn’t even mentioned anymore. It’s nice to have friends all over the world.
The pas half hour i was clicking my old links to see which ones still work and lots don’t or noone has been there in a long time. That’s how I came across this blog entry on fandom.
Overall my Dark Angel fandom period, was a good experience. One I will never forget.
Astra
ps my emailadress is still the same!
Admin’s note: Hey As! The DA fandom is like a comfortable old shoe… I can totally share with you in that analogy, although with me it would be like comparing DA to 80% of my wardrobe. (Um, meaning that I never wear a good 80% of my wardrobe’s contents, but nevertheless can’t bring myself to throw the clothes away. But I have an excuse! You see, there’s the work clothes, the lazy-weekend clothes, the incase-I-go-somewhere-flash clothes, the in-case-of-sudden-invitation-to-fancy-dress-party clothes, the old-skool-back-in-the-day-goth clothes, the grunge-revival clothes and… yeah I know, I’ve leapt completely off-topic. I’ll shut up on that one now. Urgh. Sleepy.)
Last note, I’m a terrible friend - I’ll email ya tomorrow!
(must sleep now…)
Comment by Astra — March 6, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Meant for the comment before this one..
there are forums with active DA fans. Dark Angel: Reflections for a Broken World is one and Post-Pulse is another.
While I agree that many have lost interest in this fandom, I guess all I can say is the real fans are the ones that stay on and try to relive the memories.
FanFicion.Net is AWESOME for DA fic…
Comment by Daria — April 1, 2007 @ 2:54 am
I have to agree with Daria. The real fans are what keep the show alive even it is in fic form. On another note, can anyone please tell where I an find Zeke’s Contingency Plan? I’ve looked everywhere for it.
Comment by Gemini — April 15, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
I agree with Daria, the true fans keep the show alive, even if it is in fanfic form. I also have a request, can anyone tell me where to find Zeke’s “Contingency Plan”? I found the first three chapters on The Broken World and would like to read the rest.
Comment by Gemini — April 22, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Hi Gemini,
Thanks for your feedback. Contingency Plan can be found at The Broken World’s Fiction Archive (http://fiction.thebrokenworld.org) under the Max/White sub-section of the Relationships category.
Comment by Sorrow — July 20, 2008 @ 11:43 pm