Guide to Completed SSHG Novellas (HBP Era - III)

[harmony_bites]

A friend had mentioned she hadn’t read a lengthy post-HBP SSHG story that matched the old classics, which left me to scurry to catch up on my reading I searched through FanfictionNet, AdultFanfiction, Restricted Section, Ashwinder, Petulant Poetess and OWLWithin three posts are listed every single completed SSHG story I could find of over 10,001+

Comments

[anonymous]

I don't have an LJ account so this post will be anonymous - and I guess that it will diminish its credibility.

I am very new to fanfiction and indeed up until August I had never read it. I started reading it out of curiosity and because it seemed strange to me that after all this time HP was over. Somehow I am stuck on SS/HG, probably because I find that Snape is impossible to ignore, despite his numerous faults. I was pleasantly surprised to find good stories among the general mediocrity and the ramblings of 14 year old girls (in body or mind)- and I am being polite here.

I decided to comment here because I enjoyed reading your lists and recommendations for HP and SS/HG in particular and I would like to thank you for providing them :) I also enjoy your story at FF and look forward to reading more chapters. I must also add that what bothers me in a lot of abuse themed SS/HG stories is the idea that one must suffer every imaginable terror so she (usually it's a she) can finally look forward to some happiness. It is as if one can achieve happiness and be entitled to sex, love, romance only through pain; a notion that I find disturbing and demeaning. Circumstances can be difficult and ugly but never are they one-dimensional. I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks so. Difficult themes can make great stories but only if the author is up to the task.

A reader.

[harmony_bites]

I admit I do like some angst. I once read a definition of plot as being "put your character up a tree--then throw rocks." Another one I once read is, "and then it gets worse." Bambu says she proudly calls herself an angst writer, and she's one of my favorite authors. I don't know that it's a matter of suffering for happiness, but I like seeing characters overcome difficulties and being happy in the end because they grow as a result.

So maybe that's the key--do the characters--and does the reader, learn and grow from their experiences? Otherwise it just seems sadism on the part of the author.

Also, although its true I think SSHG has a "romance novel" problem, other fandoms and ships have their own distinct problems. Snarry (Harry/Snape) for instance, has a lot of chan (underage--often very underage pairings). Trek had its share of rapefic and disturbing tropes too. And the majority of any fanfic is just plain awful. I actually was drawn to SSHG because I felt it had excellent stories--and I think few ships match us in that regard. So it's by no means all a dark picture.

[anonymous]

I must admit that I have ventured only a little to other "ships" and fandoms and slash is not really my cup of tea (with very few exceptions). Angst is sometimes fine and I do enjoy reading characters that evolve and change, it is the simplistic and the "abuse -> love" that annoy me. Much like many others I guess! What I meant with suffering for happiness was more that some authors seem to need to have their characters enter relationships through abuse. Added with terrible writing, cliches etc. and well.. you get the idea. And I also read and like Bambu's stories :) In any case, I think that fanfiction is mostly an amateur's game but it certainly doesn't mean that there aren't good stories, in the same way that "proffesional" authors can write terrible books.

[harmony_bites]

What I meant with suffering for happiness was more that some authors seem to need to have their characters enter relationships through abuse.

Ah, there I'd agree.

In any case, I think that fanfiction is mostly an amateur's game but it certainly doesn't mean that there aren't good stories, in the same way that "proffesional" authors can write terrible books.

Some become professionals. I even know some people who have sold that occasionally still dabble in fanfic. And the other day I picked up a bestseller to read and honest to god though, "the fanfic I've been reading is better than this." And it is. But yeah, fanfic is pretty much by its nature stories written by amateurs and beginning writers, so you have to make allowances.

But honest to God, there have been SSHG I've read better written, more thoughtful, richer than Rowling's own HP. Blasphemous as it might be to say that.