Jul 2008 Archive, part b

So I've left my proper comment on the LJ entry. Here's to you guys!

So to not spoil anything, I'll just go whoa my God you both are nuts. And awesome. XD

... but the character of Sentinel Sarah Lyons from Fallout 3 certainly stands out as an intereting example. She's down to earth, frank (in her own manner) and she's no slouch in a fight (though that full-body suit of T-45 power armour and her decade or so of training certainly helps). Heck, she's even in a position of power - commander of an elite strike force of the Brotherhood of Steel and the second-highest ranking person within her chapter.

Best of all, in my opinion - she may fight alongside you if you are of good heart, but SHE ISN'T A ROMANCE OPTION (sorry for the caps). This was one of the first occasions in my 10 or so years of video-gaming life when I found this cliche broken in a role-playing game.

I'm not sure whether I could cite any particular faults, but one that can stand out is her fool-hardyness - she's generally level-headed, but dangle a crisis in front of her and she'll be filing a request for an asignment instantly to her superiors. This, more often then not, causes her to have to speak with her father (the Eldar of the chapter, no less) and she usually is convinced to stand down.

...even though this is 2 years after the original post...
ANGUA ALL THE WAY!
Sybil too. But Angua is priceless. And Angua+Carrot, while just two rather minor characters in the Discworld scheme of things, beats every Twilight couple you can think of down and out of the door and plopping right into the sewer...
Eh, I got carried away with the metaphor there.

Buffy Summers, Vampire Slayer.

Xena, Warrior Princess.

Samus, bounty hunter.

Susan Pevensie, formerly Queen of Narnia.

The PPC Agents on here.

I'd list more, but I've been typing some other stuff up. I really don't wanna get carpal tunnel syndrome.

Katara, from Avatar the Last Airbender. Admittedly, she goes around in some pretty aesthetically-pleasing costumes, but most of them are flexible so as to be functional when waterbending. She's beautiful, smart, a master of her element, and she managed to transcend some ugly gender stereotypes in her art. She also has a hot temper, but she doesn't get away with mouthing off by any means. She has made some horrible choices in men, resulting in a couple messy break-ups, but instead of laying around feeling angsty about her life, she learns from her mistakes and eventually ends up with one of the most decent guys on the show. All in all, she's awesome.

From the same show, there's Toph Bei Fong. She's also a pretty young woman, and she's overcome her blindness by developing an awesome method of echolocation, even managing to bend metal, previously unheard of in earthbending. She still makes little mistakes due to blindness (like pinning up posters backward), but when she realizes she makes them, she owns up to them and goes on with life. She possesses a cruel sense of humor, which her friends call her out on even though she's completely unrepentant, and she's very bull-headed, which leads to some justifiable tension in the group. But she doesn't make excuses for herself because she is blind or because she's a girl or because she has a very bad past with her parents...rather, she owns her issues, and grows as a person because of it.

Ooh, my newly-developed ATLA obsession is showing. But while I'm here...

Fujioka Haruhi of Ouran High School Host Club. At the beginning of the story, she is a commoner who is admitted into a very prestigious high school for rich kids, because she did the hard work and earned a scholarship to go there. She comes into a school with short hair and somewhat androgynous looks, and everybody thinks she's a boy. Then, she's found out by the local club of extremely gorgeous man-meat boys, and, since she owes them several thousand yen's worth of favors, she is compelled to work for them, disguising herself as a boy. Secretly, all the boys are in love with her, each in their own way, but they treat her like an equal instead of putting her on a pedestal (except for one, but he's a bit nuts). She's not a romantic at all, settles into the club like she would a job, and tries not to let her secret out...by which is meant that she doesn't go around matchmaking, but actually, genuinely, tries to avoid any unnecessary attention whatsoever. Eventually, the club needs her dry sense of humor and down-to-earth personality just to keep running. And she's awesome!

Because.

Dude.

Just.

Kill Bill.

And, well, Eowyn. Duh. And...um...pretty much everything everyone else said.

*pointless late post is pointless*

C.C, Kallen, Cornelia, Sayako and Anya from Code Geass are all strong warriors, in their different disciplines (ninja!Sayako FTW). Not to mention the fact that C.C seems to be completely frikin immortal and has the healing ability of Wolverine.

Relena, Noin, Sally, Hilde, Dorothy and Une from Gundam Wing are all strong women, even if they're not all warriors in the traditional sense. Relena especially, has the strength to try and change the world even while everything is falling apart around her.

Sumeragi, Nena and Soma from Gundam 00 are all strong as well. Again, not all of them are directly involved in the fighting, but they are capable of holding their own in what is definitely a man's world.

She packs the biggest hand cannon in the Firefly-verse and is badass to the nth degree. I agree with Leto's assessment that River isn't necessarily because of her mentally-damaged state, though.

How about, just putting a few randoms out there - Princess Fiona from the Shrek series (I mean, she kicks the arses of all of Robin Hood's merry men in the original, for one)? Hana Gitelman from Heroes (ex-Mossad with the ability to manipulate electric information etc.)? Ziva David from NCIS (just awesome)? Sydney Bristow from Alias? Fiona from Burn Notice? Lara Croft, Tomb Raider?

Kerowyn, Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books. Mercenary captain (it took her an altogether appropriate length of time to train and work her way to that position), Herald of Valdemar, owner of a magic sword that's really inconvenient to its bearer. The pb cover annoys me (to the extent that I wrote a term paper on it), because the picture has her in a silly, silly suit of armor with long flowing hair, etc. that she would never wear.

Likewise her teacher, the Shin'a'in Tarma. Goddess-bonded warrior. Celibate, sarcastic swordswoman.

Mirax Terrik, Star Wars. She's primarily a smuggler, but her cleverness, resource, and common sense sometimes end up in a firefight, where she keeps her cool well.

Polly Perks, Discworld. She is a soldier. That's really all there is to it. She is a successful (i.e. passing) crossdresser, but doesn't turn into a bombshell when in girly clothes.


---
I would just like to put in a plug for a series of anthologies related to this. The first is called "Chicks in Chainmail" and they are edited by Esther Friesner. They deal with exactly this topic--how to write the warrior woman without turning her into a pinup girl or losing her sense of humor. They're hilarious, frankly, and well written.

Kylara Vatta (Vatta's War; Elizabeth Moon) attended Space Force Academy and then, sometime in her last semester, got kicked out for political reasons. She rejoins her family's space shipping business shortly before it is attacked and nearly destroyed by a coalition of pirates, whom she eventually manages to build up a force to defeat. Also, she often wears a spacesuit (really the only thing reasonable when you're in a spaceship that could get blown up).

Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (The Deed of Paksenarrion; Elizabeth Moon) A shepherd's daughter fleeing an unwanted marriage joins a mercenary company. The books were written as a rebuttal to how the author was told paladins in role-playing games were often played, so Paks is unfailingly humble and, though she eventually succeds at most of her aims, goes through a lot of grief (including four straight days of torture).

Firekeeper (Firekeeper Saga; Jane Lindskold) A girl raised by (sentient) wolves is found by an expedition that set out to find the village founded by a disinherited prince (because his father is getting old, his siblings are dead, and his daughter is technically the next in succession). Her only posessions are a dagger and a set of flint and steel, both of which she is quite proficient at using. Although she is clever, she's also quite savage and has several opportunities to learn the value of armor. (Naturally, growing up in a forest had already taught her the value of short hair, and she did have that dagger to cut with.)

There was someone else, whom I will doubtless remember as soon as I post.

Aeryn Sun kicks butt. Actually, so do most of the women on that show. Chiana has her ways, Zhaan will take you down if you're really annoying, Sikozu (although Not Nice), Jool... eh, well, Jool. ^_^; Anyway, Aeryn is just particularly awesome in that regard.

~Neshomeh

I'd like to list both Kathryn Janeway and B'Ellana Torres of Star Trek Voyager. And Karrin Murphy of Dresden Files. I've only (nearly) read one of the books, but I think she would qualify.

All three women have in common that they are strong, but also have their weaknesses, which they try to cover up to prevent from being exploited. You know, like real women do.

There are warrior!Sues in the fandoms I read in, but since those fandoms are about 20th/21st century Earth based military (like) these Sues generally manage to wear something appropriate in battle.

But Samantha Carter from Star Gate. She is a genius and she can gun sling with the best of them.

L

I already mentioned Captain Unohana but there's also Yaone from Saiyuki and Meilin from Card Captor Sakura. Both of them tend to play second to their male teammate(s) in battle but they both have strong hearts and are perfectly capable of defending themselves. Though Yaone's outfit is some cause for concern it isn't nearly as bad as some Warrior Sue's. Meilin doesn't have any magic yet she still follows Syaoran to Japan to capture the Clow Cards and her martial art skills are very strong. But more than that she has a strong personality. She's very determined but also rather kind (even to Sakura, who she thinks it Syaoran's rival and there for an opponent). To me a strong female character isn't just defined by how good she is in battle. If we take battle ability out of the equation I'd like to throw another name into the pot: Yuuko Ichihara.

Oh, I just thought of a real Warrior Woman. Android 18 from DBZ. She beat Vegeta easily and she did it without being a 'Sue.

Éowyn (LotR), Mariel (Redwall), Leela (Doctor Who), Kale (DragonKeeper Chronicles), Mara Jade Skywalker (Star Wars), Colonel Kira (Star Trek), Firebird Caldwell (Firebird Series), Molly Weasley (Harry Potter), Orual (Till We Have Faces)

...from the Firefly-verse. You don't get much more warrior than that. (Of course, some of that is lost when River goes all kickass with any and all available weaponry. And no armor...)
Others...I agree Tamora Peirce's character often fit that category. Angua from the Discworld series is that way as well. (Pratchett is VERY careful to avoid the scantily-clad warrior woman, ahaha.)

...of Tamora Pierce!

Keladry of Mindelan, Rebeca Cooper, and Alanna the Lioness are my favorite Warrior Women. Neither are 'Sues in any way (except Alanna has more dei ex machina than I can count on both hands as well as the power of the Gods...). They are not especially beautiful or graceful, and they actually use ARMOR THAT COVERS THEIR ENTIRE BODIES. Whoa. And they actually had to LEARN how to use weapons. As in, it took YEARS for them to master them.

There are others that I'm not thinking of right now, and I'll probably post them later.

Rukia, Soifon, Yoruichi, Halibel and Matsumoto from Bleach are all good female warriors. They're strong, capable of holding their own against the men of the series and most of them hold quite high ranks. Armour isn't really an issue, since it's a rare thing for someone in Bleach canon to wear armour, but they do mostly cover up/wear the same uniforms as the males around them.

Sakura, Tsunade, Tenten, Temari and Hinata from Naruto can also hold their own against men that are considered as strong or stronger than them. They're not push overs, and woe betide anyone who thinks they are. Again, they don't wear the kind of skimpy clothes that you'd see a Sue wearing (except in bad fanfics where they're sleeping with every man in sight).

The Weyrwomen of the Pern series aren't warriors in the traditional sense of the word, but they do fight to protect their world from a deadly threat, so I'll count them here. Lessa, Moreta and Sorka especially stand out amongst them. They're level-headed and mentally strong enough to handle riding a queen dragon, with all the responsibility that entails.

I think there are more than enough "symbols of power and independance" for women around. Not to say that women don't deserve such thing, but quite frankly, we already have it, and I think a lot of women nowadays are throwing their victory into everyone else's faces. It seems like the pendulum has swung too far.

That said, I do like strong female characters. The one whom most fits your description is B'Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager, but the one I most admire in terms of being a strong woman is Mara from Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts' Empire series - she makes her victories by being clever politically, and has no skill at all with weapons. I like that. On a similar note, I love Yvaine from Stardust - the movie adaptation more than the book, but still. She is a fiercely strong-willed character, but I like that she keeps her strength without ever picking up a weapon (though she does wield her 'Super Shine Powers' (thankfully not referred to as such) to defeat an enemy).

Hm, I ramble. And aside from B'Elanna, I don't think this is what you wanted. Still, I wanted to say it. I like warrior women - I'd call myself one - but I tend to avoid them because from what I see in society today, I think it's overkill. We know women can be strong; what's unexplored is how strength, how the ability to fight and win, doesn't require weapons or battle cries. There are many I would call warriors that don't fight.

The Eternal Newb is a long-haired glasses wearing guy who likes to perform cooking experiments and greatly enjoys raspberry flavored anything. He describes his home town as "Canada, New York." Will sometimes randomly change his accent without realizing he has done so.

His favorite canonverse is Ranma 1/2.

Does not possess a Jusenkyo curse.

DID however read something which shall not be named but is generally considered the height of evil. There seems to be no permanent effect, and he is still capable of eating ice cream.

The unwritten policy on pulling canons is that they have to be character replacements, not the actual canon character. Dafydd was meant to be Maglor, but wasn't really. Paddlebrains thinks of herself as Sirius Black, but clearly isn't the canonical version. Exceptions have been made only if the character is canonically dead with no chance of returning, as with Agent Suicide and Team Phoenix. It's better if they're more obscure characters, too. If the character is definitely the character and she's still alive in her own canon, even presumed missing, it's probably best not to recruit her.

Is it directly stated that she was pulled from someplace she wasn't supposed to be?

~Neshomeh

...as no answer came readily to my mind, all it said was that "the day begins with breakfast in Great Hall... [and] a bell signals the start of the first class at 9 am."

I would assume that students wake up, or are woken up by their peers, sufficiently before breakfast to dress, gather materials, do last-minute homework, whatever.
Adjustable biological clocks and all.

It's always the ones that mangle your childhood that are the most offputting. Congrats.

congrats on killing the stu.

It's the Boarders that need permission, not the agents. {= )

~Neshomeh

Hey look, guys, an adult!

*grin* Have another case of bleeprin, and some lead-based frosting! Comes with two tubes of mercury filling! (oh, don't worry, the giant bunnies go away after a few hours)

Many happy returns, BH!

Happy birthday!

Good shinies! Excellent shinies! And alochol! Good alcohol! Excellent alcohol!

Because you asked for it. ;p

Hmm... I think I will also give you a Pencil. Not a pencil, but a Pencil. Respect the capital. It can be used for writing charges, of course, but comes with the additional benefits of never needing to be sharpened, and turning into a steel-tipped stake when in direct contact with a Mary Sue's body. It also has your name scratched into the wooden shell. Enjoy!

Birthday lembas all round (it has pink icing like a sticky bun, and candles on it)!

Wonderful! Joyeuse anniversaire and all that. :)

I do hereby give you several Sharp Pointy Objects, a large amount of chocolate, and, because your user-name amuses me, a Killer Hamster.
(It's like the Killer Rabbit, except not quite, though he's still got the Nasty Sharp Pointy Teeth. Treat him well; he will gladly tear out the throats of Sues upon command.)

I give you a stylish black bag of holding, for putting all your other gifts in (as well as anything else, like annoying siblings and weaponry).

Here, have a cursed katana. The wounds that it inflicts cannot be healed by any means, magical or mundane.

Perfect size for Sue-head destroying. Thank you.

*investigates buffet* Ooo, are those bleeprin cupcakes?

I give you a bouquet of whatever-flower-you-want-because-I'm-running-low-on-ideas. Many well wishes.

We need to know what email addresses to send scripts etc to, so could all of you please send me an email from the correct address to

trojanhorseshadowfax AT gmail DOT com

all it needs to say is something along the lines of 'hi, this is me', but we need the addresses :)

I'm sorry, I was in Germany, otherwise I would have responded to this before, but I'm happy to do any female British voices.

When voice-command is used, the user's voice changes, but I don't think Kathy Tyers specified how.

If everyone who is involved in voice recording could make sure they have the programme Audacity (which can be downloaded for free of Teh Intarwebz) or something else that will record and save as MP3 format, that would be great.

The script is *almost* finalised. Thunderbirds are very much looking like they will be GO soon. Hopefully :)

I've only got the one part so far.

By the way, when do we start recording? {= )

~Neshomeh

I think I missed the sign-up bit, so I'd be happy to do one of the girls on the list. Have a halfway decent microphone...

I can do the Dalek (just put my voice throgh a synthesiser) the andalite would be my regular speach, and I guess the Scots I can do my imitation of Sean Connery.

and I know someone else who can do Risa, as long as you don't mind something that's recorded on a mobile.

I might be able to convince my bro to do a male voice. I'd ask him now, but he's not currently in the house.

If you restart it, that is. Which I think you'll be able to. And I really, really want you to. Yes....

I approve wholeheartedly. I have an Agent who would love a pet, and besides, as fun as killing and skinning CAFs may be, why not save a couple of the more redeemable?

and you need any help with it, I volunteer.

*shrug* Spur of the moment things are fun.

And I might adopt something for my agents at some point, too.

Well, I've seen the movie, and reading a synopsis of the story online, so I have a fairly good knowledge of what's good and bad.
Anywho, just send it along to artic.blade at hotmail, you know the rest.

.....

Excuse me.

If there are no other takers, I need a really, really good excuse for two DMSers to take those missions. Because I am sorry. You. Do. Not. Touch. My. Bionicles.

Is that clear? If there's no one more qualified, those are MINE. ...And Agent Robin needs a part killing 'em. She's probably an expert in Bionicle fandom, so at least a Canon Consult.

I'm oddly calm. But I'd like these, if I can think of a way to claim 'em. These are my late childhood. Takanuva is incredibly dear to my heart. There is a Bionicle fic with the Toa at school, humans, that worked in a way and which I loved (that might've been the Gali/Tahu, but STILL). Just...

Excuse me. Sorry, there was a reason I was avoiding Bionicle fanfic. *Sighs* Alas. My poor Bionicles...

Disentanglers are not paid near enough to touch it. And by paid I mean insane.

I can't think of many Sues that song WOULDN'T fit with.

For the people who have already been traumatised, the first two lines are actually meant to read:

'You know that I've got something special.
I feel so lucky to be me.'

My bad...

...Frighteningly suitable, in fact.

Now picture it being sung by a whole chorale of Sues.
In urple and wilver robes.

Not at my most creative right now, but here are some.

Bugs, 'Sues, and Steel
Urple Days and Wilver Nights
The Battle for Canon
Oh, Canon, Wherefore Art Thou?
Canon Wars

More coming maybe?

PPC: The Year Of Living Dangerously

PPC Fiction

PPC Confidential

Citizen Sue

Apocalypse Shortly After Dinnertime

The Usual Agents

The Protectors of the Plot Continuum: The Fellowship of the Plot Continuum

There Will Be Glitter

No Country For New Sues

Stranger Than Fanfiction

Yes, they're all rip-offs. I think it plays nicely on the whole continuum aspect of the PPC, especially the LotR rip-off title.

• Life is Not So Beautiful
  
  - The Stress, The Sues, and I
  (Or: "Stress, Sues, and I")
  
  - Agents of the Multiverse
  
  - Mission: Mostly Impossible
  
  (Right, I'm spoofing too many titles here. Trying to be original...)
  
  - The Multiverse Missions
  
  - Disaster in the Word Worlds
  
  Or, very simply:
  
  - Protecting the Plot Continuum
  (with or without subtitles such as "The Mary-Sue Invasion", et cetera)
  
  
  ... yeah. I don't feel very creative today. Hopefully some are all right.

Science Fiction Double Feature (we fall loosely into sci-fi, right? ^_^; )
-or-
HQ Horror Picture Show (perhaps gives a nod to the various artistic styles likely to be involved as well as the previous suggestion.)

What Alice Saw (...through the looking-glass. Mirror Multiverse reference.)

On the Flip Side (refers to the Mirror Multiverse again)

My Side, Your Side! (and again, but more playful and can also refer to battle lines in general; also with a hilarious Farscape reference for those who know the show. This is my first choice!)


That's all for now. I'll be back if I think of any more.

~Neshomeh

Invader Sue!

PPC Strikes Back

PPC: The Sue Menace

PPC Endgame

March of the PPC

PPC Survivors (this one sounds like it would make a great series)

Invasion of the PPC: Archives that should be lost but we found

The Hardships of a Year

Invasions and Emergencies Overcome

PPC: Now and Forever

Agents Survive!

That is all I have for now.

The Yarrow's Revenge

Pestilence, Death, and War

Double Trouble: The 08 Invasions
Although it's not very funny...

... I haven't forgotten about my scripting bit, I've just been overwhelmed lately. I'll get it to you by tomorrow.

Then I have to work out how to persuade my dad to sign up for Skype ...

1) The End is Nigh!

2) The Graph of Doom (In response to the Catastrophe Theory Graph)

3) PPC: Guardians

4) PPC; the Movie!

5) The PPC and the annoyingly long subtitle that really on wastes time but provides a handy distraction so that we may steal your money.

6) Operation PPC: Protectors of the Plot Continuum

7) PPC: Mary-Sues, Viruses and Flowers, oh my!

8) The Catastrophy Theory

9) PPC .vs. the Mary-Sue

10) The Final Stand


Ok, I'm out of ideas. Anyone else?

*coughs* I has list. Most of which you've already seen.

The Dreaded Demonic Macrovirus of Mary!
MacroSue
Malodorous Mary Sues + Macrovirus!
The Emergency
When Sues Attack and Flowers Get Naughty
Two Zero Zero Eight Attack
And a Thousande Elephants!

Crebaina hails from the Real World, but she has a daemon? How does that work?

Not being the resident Redwall expert, I'll trust Laburnum as far as the writing sample goes--though I will say cut back on the horizontal rules if you always use them that much. They're really distracting with such short sections.

~Neshomeh

I know you, and I've read your work and it looks cool.

So what say you, Other Permission Givers? She definitely has my vote.

And a heavy manual shaped like an axe on how to use it.

Bleepolate cake for both of you. *glomps you both*

~Zoe~

Have a mini-Balrog named Lendil.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! *huggles July massively*

Here! Have an egg whisk! Have some Bleepka! Have my soul!

Actually, don't have my soul, but you can snag the rest.

Wuv!

I give you a box of spare tildes, like the one that should be over the "n" in the subject line. ^_^;

~Neshomeh

Hey, your name's July, and your birthday's in July...Wow, it's like a conspiracy or something...:D
I give you stylish bag of holding in pretty flame print. Holds lots and lots, and as an added bonus, makes anyone who tries and steal it catch on fire.

I got you two presents, this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycEmNZkpAZs

And the other one is that I'm posting here like you're always bugging me to do.

But before getting too involved...

...joyeuse anniversaire, and may you live long and prosper.
:)

(Just keep Lux away from my Agents... they haven't met her yet.)

May you have many more~. :)

*showers with confetti*

*throws exploding confetti*

Happy late birthday, Trojan! Have more Bleepka and some chocolate!

And for July...

width="425" height="344"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TIIGz1YqMXg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344">

Happy Birthday, mate! *throws more confetti about*

Cheers, y'all!

I present you with a Basket and Box of your own! Now you have handy food and drinks of any type, anywhere.

I proffer alcohol and other intoxicating libations of various hues and potencies! I proffer fairy bread, cheese crackers and other assorted snacks and treats! I proffer the gift of dance!

I give you a very, very non-alcoholic glass of Ribena, and a muffin with hot, melting toast and straberries. *shrugs* I supposed that you'd need it, after that party.

But I suppose if anyone wants to party for that, it can get done in RP picking up from where Trojie finished that. XD

I would but I don't have agents or permission to write them :(

Don't know the fandom

As a previous mission for one of my agents. I'm open to it.

Not an expert in any of those fandoms except Naruto (and I'm behind on the latest chapters), but I know a bit about Fullmetal Alchemist, Inuyasha, and Deathnote. I'd be willing to give it a shot, if you want.

That first one. Seriously. They had to do the WHOLE musical number from "Annie Get Your Gun"? Whyyy?

Unfortunately, my previous attempts at co-writing have always... not "ended in disaster" so much as "gradually petered out with nothing much being accomplished." So I'd be a bad choice even if I didn't already have a list of things to do. But please do kill it for the sake of musical theatre and decent anime everywhere.

~Neshomeh

Legendary fics, good or bad, can't be legendary unless lots of people know about them. I mean, you drop a reference to minis or the color lavender and everyone instantly knows what you're talking about. That's legendary.

As for me, I like Hellsing, but I'm not generally into X-rated stuff, so I won't be reading this particular fic.

~Neshomeh, clearing things up.

Well, for the most part we're mature on here. It can't actually be nominated for a Legendaru Goodfic unless two or more people agree with you, so you may as well bite the bullet and post it on here. The majority of us have read at least one of the Legendary Badfics, so we should be able to deal with almost anything you can throw at us.

Which 'verse is it from? That would probably help aid the decision too.

I assume it's me, though there was no mention of him explicitly. And, um... who? O.o

~Neshomeh, who will apparently have to read T_M's stuff again.

Though I would have added "causing Draco Malfoy to wear 'pants and boxers' instead of trousers and pants." ^_^

Your agents have a great dynamic, and your writing is solid. Definitely a good first mission.

April would like to know if Crebaina has had any problem with the disguise generator and Aeron. The generator in RC 1701 tends to squish Fitch into April's shoulder.

Very good on your first mission. Can't wait to see more of your Agents! I'm guessing there will be much conflict.

Now, onto the mission itself: Yuck. Brainless bad smut is never fun. Still, you handled it well, so good job.

The mission was entertaining, and the agents are nice, average ones. I hope to have mine bump into them at some point.

Dare I ask for your googlemail or MSN address?

I particularly like that you've made them opposite sorts in terms of which books they've read. And that badfic... bleh. Dreadful. Thank you for killing it.

Good job!

I WANT TO WRITE THAT CHARACTER.

That was supposed to set off all mental alarms, wasn't it?

I've read plenty of good fiction as well as A LOT of bad fiction, and while this is terrible, it's terrible in a sort of "so god awful I couldn't help but be entertained" way.

That's not to say the writer shouldn't still be tied to a mast and flogged for writing it.

The first sentence is just OMGWTFO.o;;.

There are certain things that make for bad inspiration. Dreams are usually on that list. This would be another thing.

I'm just glad it doesn't seem to have anything to do with PotO. Though I only looked at the first chapter.

~Neshomeh, scared to go further.

Why is it that they can make the author's notes look halfway decent, upping our hopes, only to dash them with the first lines of the story?

My English professor just approved my topic choice! *throws a party*

I'm off to start structuring the research and the focus. I'll make new posts if I have any favours to ask.

Thanks again, all! *hugs*

- Sedri

...Eric Flint's 1632 series.
He takes the very best fanfic for his previous novel in the series and incorporates it into the plot of the next. he also has it published AS CANON!
He also allows people to download his books freely without cost.
http://www.baen.com/library/


Just click "The books" on the left side panel.
Neat huh?
Also an alternate list.
http://www.webscription.net/c-1-free-library.aspx

There was an essay written a couple of years ago about us for a uni paper. I have been tring to find it, but I have lost the link.

Any one else have it?

Leto

I suppose that I mostly felt I needed your consent before deciding to do something like this. I don't particularly fear that we're all going to be dragged into court, but in my experience, it's always better to ask.

So thanks, all of you. And yes, I'll definitely keep you lot involved in it; you probably won't be able to shut me up after I finish it - I'll be too happy. You'll certainly get a link, Tomato. ;)

In direct response to Nesh and Pads: No, I don't particularly care if my professors give me strange looks, because if nothing else, I'll be remembered as someone who's passionate about writing and precision. And I like this one; he seems quite open-minded - actually, in the first class he told us that since he has to read about twenty thousand words at the end of semester, we'll get better marks if we're interesting. He certainly thought it had potential when I gave a very brief sketch of fanfiction a few weeks ago. Besides, that's why we have a very early session devoted entirely to topic approval.

Ah, I ramble. I suppose I'm just relieved. Thank you, guys.

(Of course, if anyone has more to say, don't let the finality of the above line stop you. I'm always interested.)

...is that they don't actually check up on these things. If it's one particular module of your course, the odds of whoever's teaching you taking a dramatic interest, seeing what's happening, and pulling a load of lawyers on fandom's head in the name of creativity are minimal. If you were, for example, basing a Phd on a fanfictiony topic that relied heavily on the PPC, you'd be drawing a little more attention, but even then, the prospects of negative legal impact are slim; the greater worry would be having a tutor who objected in some way and thus marked you down. And if you're concentrating on the phenomena aspect rather than anything else peculiar to the fanfiction world, as a paper it works, and there would also be little basis that I can see for problems with your tutor.

And certainly, if you're choosing the PPC and related phenomena, your surveys and whatnot should be thrown this way.

The final was on a subculture of our choice; I devoted a paragraph to fanfiction. I think it's entirely plausible, as long as you back everything up with data and you have your professor's blessing.

We will want to be seeing this essay. It sounds cool.

I say go for it!

and so as I see it it's a legit topic for an essay. The police aren't going to break in here with the thumbscrews and yell 'put down the novels!' after reading your essay :)
I'm also reasonably certain that other people have talked about the PPC in school/uni projects before and it has been fine.

I'm all for it. What do others think?

"There Will Be Glitter" seems the best of the leaders.

(Though I like "PPC: Big Damn Heroes," too. *g*)

~Neshomeh

I really like number 39. Mission: Mostly Impossible.

Though I'm partial to adding one or more together. How about 'There Will Be Glitter, a Thousand Elephants and an annoyingly long subtitle that really only wastes time but provides a hand distraction so that we may steal your money'?

30 + 52 = Invasion of the PPC: Stranger Than Fanfiction. And possibly with 11 as a subtitle.

I also adore #57.

To wit: "The Multiverse Missions: Apocalypse Shortly After Dinnertime"

(Yes, I know voting for combinations complicates things, but what can we do?)

--Mystia

But as far as actual titles, I think I like 50 (There Will Be Glitter) and 55 (Urple Days and Wilver Nights) better.

Though 11 is also awesome.

Though I also like 10, 11, 14, 17, 47, 52, and 53. And of course we must have A Thousande Elephants!

And a Thousande Elephants!!

Though I have to say - nothing feels quite right.

I like 10.

I vote for no. 47

My vote goes to a combination of 47 and 11, like so:

APOCALYPSE SHORTLY AFTER DINNERTIME
OR
The PPC Movie with an Annoyingly Long Subtitle that Really Only Wastes Your Time but Provides a Handy Distraction so that We may Steal Your Money

With appropriate burst fonts, naturally.

But I think my vote will go to 8. Also with my little appendage, because it's not a real movie without a thousande elephants!!!!!

I like The PPC and the annoyingly long subtitle that really only wastes time but provides a handy distraction so that we may steal your money. It has a ring to it, don't you think? :P

If it's all still the same story, with the same characters, why not? We consider the Potterverse to be one fandom - doesn't matter that it's printed in seven parts.

Good luck! Perhaps we could find a helmet for Crebaina that would keep her skull intact?

And you are a very brave person to enter the HDM section.

*sigh* It's true, though; we're all corrupted. Bilingual screaming + murder attempts = LOVE. Bleh.

I like the fighting agents. Good mission - thanks!

LOTR is my main fandom, but I have several Les Miserables Sues in my queue (and one already slain), I've done a Sandman mission, a Pride and Prejudice mission, and I have some other random things awaiting sporkage.

If you find an atrocity, and you yourself are passionate about the fandom, then go for it. Badfic is universal, and all of it deserves to be slain.

When writing a PPC mission for a little-known fandom, there aren't necessarily going to be many people around who can read it. I'm rather saddened that I have to skip over a number of available missions just because I don't understand the original canon well enough to understand what's going on - anime is a good example. LotR, Harry Potter and so on are great because almost everyone knows them.

But certainly, it's worth a try. Don't let me discourage you.

The first one made me laugh, but after that I just ended up wanting to claw my own eyes out as the drabbles got steadily more disturbing

Will not click link will not click link will not... seriously, Pads and Trojie's sporking of the other fic was brilliant, but there's no way I can sit through pure unadulterated badfic of that magnitude.

I couldn't get through it all, either. Excuse me while I lose my appetite...

Actually, I can't decide whether to laugh or cry....

"Nipplecakes"? "Spankerchiefs"?

I think I've decided.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I couldn't get through the whole thing.

The worst part is that at first, the Author-Thing taunts you with mildly sappy fluff... then suddenly proceeds rapidly to porn.

Gnah. *brain fizzles*

The handyman's secret weapon!

Just going on a string of logic here...

What if a former-Sue/Stu is an agent? Would it hurt them, particularly if they're in the canon that SueAgent came from? What effect would it have on agents in general, as we, too, don't really belong in the canon?

I'm picturing this 'DTOC' as being much less sentient than Canon itself, which, as we all know, tries to protect its agents. Feel free to shoot down said picture. But I personally think that most helpful tools ought to have problems, as well.

That said, I very much like the idea. Cheers, Seal!

BTW, I thought for a moment you were talking about the Duct Tape of Healing from Nodwick (which Igor would find very handy).

In the DBS, that is. They often need restraining. However, the idea of duct tape that is in some way poisonous to Sues is intriguing. What do our resident science geeks say?

I want my brain back, please.

This makes Richard Adams cry.

If it's a present for your friend, Suethor, print it out and give it to them personally, or e-mail it.
But don't torture the rest of us with it.
By the Black Rabbit... *shudder*

HFA hasn't been updated since 2007, so I don't know about that.

Neither of my agents are from the HP fandom, but I suspect they would be eager to attend the slaying.

I do think people would like to join up in the slaying, like in the original series, if my memory serves me well.

Also, the name Celebi and this basic plot seems very familiar. Was the description posted when it was up for grabs or am I just going insane?

Meir Brin hasn't updated for over a year now. I've tried to get in contact with her, but she's not replied. I'd suggest a place within HQ. Harry Potter is a well-liked canon in the PPC, and I think a lot of Agents would like to come and watch. My girls certainly would.

"Kill 'em, Kill them all!"
Bad Starship Troopers quote, sorry.
(not to be confused with the Starship Troopers 3 quote: "You know what to do. Get in there and Kill 'em all!")

Also should you adopt one and not the others, the sight of an agent brutally dismembering said childs siblings could leave the little chap/chapess a teensy weensy bit mentally disturbed

Particularly since child Sues are notorious for not acting their age. I think it's just a question of using your best judgement about whether or not the qualify.

1) Aragorn's Birthday by jewelledhunter
The three hobbits, Faramir, Eowyn, and Legolas have united to put on a play for Aragorn's birthday:The Lay of Beren and Luthien. Just who is Luthien? And Beren? And why are they threatening to kill Faramir?

"And Lúthien left her home and her parents and went to Ossiriand with Beren. There they dwelt for the rest of their lives, and both eventually died the death of mortal Men." Faramir was pleased. He'd gotten to show off his knowledge of historical romance, always a killer with the ladies, and Eowyn was looking quite amused at the idea of a theatrical performance.

Eowyn nodded crisply. "That will be a wonderful gift for the King and Queen. I'll arrange everything. You go fetch the periannath and Master Thranduilion and I will prepare what we need. It's only a pity that Master Gimli is visiting Erebor and will not be here to aid us."

When he was gone, she ticked off names on her fingers. "Eight. Seven of us. Well, Lord Thingol never appears with Morgoth, so..."

She scratched a list onto the wax tablet on the table.

'Peregrin--Luthien (can sing. v. important)
Frodo--Beren (loses hand, how to mimic this?)
Meriadoc--Celegorm
Samwise--Curufin
Faramir--Lord Thingol/Morgoth (must teach voice-changing trick a la Eowyn-Dernhelm)
Legolas--Huan
Eowyn--Carcharoth

Also need: black draperies, two wolf pelts (one dyed brown for H), rock crystal chunk for Sil, wigs (horsehair?)'

Faramir returned quickly, followed by three hobbits and an annoyed-looking elf. "Sorry, Frodo appears to have left the city. The guards said he wanted to get away for a little quiet."

Eowyn frowned. That meant another double on parts and one of the human and elven characters a good deal taller than the others. Bother. Meriadoc as Beren and herself as Celegorm as well?

She explained the idea. By the time she was done, Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Legolas were all gaping at her and glaring at Faramir.

The elf muttered, "Faramir, this is your fault. If you do not dissuade your lady from this course, I will be forced to kill you to preserve our sanity."

Jeeze, it's been a long times since I did one of these. Well, here goes.

4) Janette, the Outcast by MarryMerryMonaghan
*VSS*Janette is and outcast among other things, she becomes a witch, what happens when Merry and Pippin spend a day with her? Read and find out *VSS*Very Short Story

Janette was--that is to say, she existed. There wasn't much else to say about her until the day she got kicked out of her village for wearing entirely too much mascara (they had public ordnances for such things back in the day), at which time she found herself gradually drawn to the bad side of Angmar, where she fell in with a crowd of fellow rejects and started dabbling in witchcraft. Well, that's what they called it. It looked more like an excuse for nine guys to wear swooshy robes and play with jewelry. Janette never got quite as into it as they did, and she decided it was just as well when they all went off and got killed in some war.

One day, she decided she'd had enough of exile and wanted to see the world, so she packed her things and headed south. Imagine her surprise when she came upon two small people in armor!

"Greetings and salutations," she said redundantly, employing the universally-approved method of speaking to foreigners, which is of course to speak LOUD-ER and SLOW-ER. "I am Janette. Who are you?"

Unfortunately, neither Merry nor Pippin reacted well to the protracted screeching and hissing that made up her language. Merry was particularly affected by her sudden appearance at the side of the road as well as her black robes and the ridiculous amount of mascara she still wore. With a Rohirric battle-cry, he drew his sword and repeated his performance of the Pelennor with one important difference: His aim was quite a bit better this time. Janette died before she hit the ground, and the hobbits spent the rest of the day disposing of her corpse.

~*~

I hope I spelled everything right. It's been a while since I read LotR.

~Neshomeh

Props to Sara. I liked the turn of phrase. {= )

So, thoughts. First of all, Eponine is way more sympathetic than I thought just from hearing the soundtrack. Whoever does her voice in the original cast recording is really, really annoying, which makes it hard to like her. The actress I saw was very good, though. She's probably the most interesting female character in the play.

I'm still not entirely sure what the play is "about," but I am sure it isn't about the Revolution. This is very strange to me. The Revolution feels like the climax of the story because it has the biggest action, but for everyone but the students, it's merely incidental. It forces Valjean, Javert, Eponine, and Marius into some choices they wouldn't have had to make otherwise, but other than that, it accomplishes nothing. As the chorus observes, the world goes on more or less unchanged. It's completely tragic in that sense, and it confuses my sense of plot. I don't think there is a plot in the regular sense--it's just the chronicles of the lives of a few people trying to get by the best they can in a hard world.

When I say I don't know what it's about, I think I mean I'm not sure what the take-home message is. Maybe there isn't one of those, either. Maybe we're just supposed to think about it thoroughly.

In all the drama, it was good to have the Thenardiers to break the tension once in a while. They're so delightfully horrible, and they add comedy without trivializing the drama. In fact, the way those rats seem to have the last laugh just highlights the terrible state of things.

All of the cast was very good with the possible exception of Fantine, which is too bad. Even though I cried at her death scene, I was glad I wouldn't have to listen to her anymore. Javert was probably the best. He had some kind of accent; I'm not sure what, but it made him stand out, and his voice was great. Valjean sounded like Valjean--very impressive, what with the demanding range in the part.

Men have an unfair advantage when it comes to range. Anyone can train their voice to go higher (whether it sounds good is another matter), but the bottom of your range is the bottom of your range. You can't train your vocal cords to be longer than they are. Also, there's only so high a soprano can go before nobody wants to hear those notes, even if she's exceptionally gifted. {= P

All those long-haired bass/baritones reminded me of my long-haired bass/baritone. ^_^

~Neshomeh

A friend of mine recently returned from London, and has described several times how she was able to see Les Mis there. We are extremely envious of her (and you as well). Glad the experience was all you hoped for!

Where did you see it?

I cried, too...once when I saw it the first time, one when I listened to the soundtrack, and once when I saw it again. (The first two were during "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," and the third was during Javert's death scene.) When did you start crying?

I love Les Mis...just the songs themselves have made me cry before, but I've never gotten to see it.

You had better post the all kinds of things that you have to say! *prods*

I give you a bag of holding, cause everyone can use another bag. Especially one that holds lots of stuff. Geeky birthday five!

Conga rats on reaching official adulthood!

I will snag those t-shirts...WANT.

*gifts with an egg whisk (gold-plated) and a bar of Swiss chocolate*

My birthday's around the time of the ren-faire in NYC, so yay for other geek-birthdays! ^_^ I present you with a gigantic omnibus edition of Azumanga Daioh. Because no one can have too much Azumanga, especially now that I've discovered badfic for it. D:

Have a Freeze Ray, courtesy of Dr. Horrible. It's not a death ray or an ice beam - that's so Johnny Snow.

*rummages through bag* aHA!

Have a spork!

Because everyone needs sporks. A lot of them.

Hapy Birthday!

And since Cassie already gave you twolips, I gift you with a piece of reverse wood. Have fun!

Birthday bite.

...

Fine.

*gives Tomato a large chocolate birthday cake as well*


Hope you have a happy birthday~.

I gift you with a large bunch of twolips and a basket of Bleeprin-berries, grown in the garden of my plover and bunny, Dan and Oggy.

*presents a K-9*

*gives Tomato her present from Kumori in a basket* A Tomato does not get flowers, I'm afraid. A Tomato gets carrots. They're good for you.

Or for those fandoms where the OFU headmaster/mistress isn't managing the minis? I know Battle Hamster takes care of the Mini-Razors, but what of the others? The PPC wiki isn't much help...

If anyone wants to adopt him, y'all can get in touch with me. I have contact addresses on the wiki.

"The status is NOT quo! The world is a mess and...I just have to rule it."

"You are NOT my nemesis! My nemesis is Captain Hammer...corporate tool...dislocated my shoulder a week ago..."

And...I have the Bad Horse song stuck in my head...

And Nathan Fillion sings! Holy crap!

"It will...because I hold a PhD in HORRIBLENESS!"

And Joss Whedon's letter sounds like it was written by a hyper PPCer. Seriously.

It wins the internet. I can't get that song from Act III, "Slipping", out of my head.

I head about this on the radio and wasn't by any computer and I was wondering how I was going to remember this!!!

Leto

That was amazing.