On Sat, Feb 10, 2001 at 11:10:42PM -0000, Neil Faulkner wrote:
Neglect of original characters is something I've moaned about more than once in the past, since in many (though not all) cases they are severely underwritten, underdescribed, badly named, and little more than one-dimensional cyphers to give 'our heroes' something to play off against. Some of them make Gamete look like a deeply developed well-rounded character.
I don't think it's all that strange. Fan writers want to write about their favourite characters, and some fan writers want to write about *no one else*. Anyone else whose presence is necessitated by the plot is an irksome irritation on whom to waste as few words as possible. Likewise settings, which can be nothing more than an abstract locale in which the action takes place, and consequently left all but undescribed.
Don't put all the blame on fan writers. Fan readers are just as much to blame. In another fandom, I've seen people say that if writers aren't writing about the main characters, then they shouldn't be writing fanfic at all, they should be writing original fiction. And readers simply want to *read* about "no one else" but the main characters. And I can understand the sentiment, really I can -- because the point of fanfic is that one is using someone else's characters and setting, so if one isn't going to use them, then why is one writing it?
And yes, there is a reaction against Mary-Sues (and by extension, all Original Female Characters) -- but why shouldn't there be? They are *awful*. Bad writing is bad writing, and reading someone else's wish-fullfilment fantasy is going to be a bore whatever universe it's set in.
All that said, good writing is also good writing, and watching someone explore the setting or the minor characters in a show is going to be enjoyable to me too, if it's well written. (Such as Neil's interesting excursions into that area...) But I'm not going to read that kind of thing all the time -- I'll go read some original SF, more than likely.
Kathryn Andersen -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Nick: Expecting anyone? Mrs Deveraux: No, why? Nick: Somebody at the door. (knock at door) Mrs Deveraux: You should work up an act, Mr Parker. (Blind Fury)