What I'm watching in the fan-fic world
I really am trying to finish the last installment of The Unexpected Horcrux, but ...
Stories that I'm watching, with comments:
Harry Potter and the Toll of Destiny - by Legobean - archived on Phoenixsong.net
This is an interesting - picking up the pieces after the war story that for a while was working on being a psychological study (literally) in which Psychologist!Hermione has sucked out all of Harry's post-war memories to help him deal with the trauma. The story seems to have turned a corner of late and is having a difficult time dealing with portraying the tension in the relationship between Harry and Ginny.
Harry Potter and the Deadly Deception - by Delyla - archived on Phoenixsong.net
I've done a few chapters as a free-lance beta on this one. As I told the author in an e-mail, the premise of the story is dreadful - Harry fakes his death and then comes back to Hogwarts in disguise, where he is enrolled in Slytherin. That being said, the writing is excellent. Updates have been sparse.
Meaning of One, Part Two - by Sovran - archived on SIYE
As is often the case with SIYE stories, this one could use a bit more beta polish. Another story with a dreadful premise, but the characterization and storytelling are superb. Ginny is Harry's missing soul-mate. They meet at Kings Cross and once they touch, their lives, minds and magic bond in a way that few can comprehend. Yeah, right. Kinda takes the mystery out of who Harry's going to pair with at the end. It's a top-notch story, though.
Grey Maiden IV, Darkness Rising - by Chris Widger - archived on SIYE
A brilliant story that desperately needs a good beta. The errors in the posted chapters make me cringe. I've downloaded the chapters, fixed the errors and sent them to the author, who has never, ever responded to any of my e-mails. That being said, it's a corker of a story - yet another start from the beginning and retell the saga story. Lily and Harry have a contemporary who's a precocious Auror - the Grey Maiden - after Lily and James die, Harry is raised by the Grey Maiden - who gives Harry a very different upbringing. Harry is sorted into Slytherin, yet still makes friends with Hermione and then, a year later, Ginny, who is also sorted into Slytherin.
The Lie I've Lived - by JBern - archived on Fanficauthors.net
I'm Jim's beta, but not for this story. Jim's a terrific storyteller who is learning the mechanics of writing and improving by leaps and bounds. This story got my own juices going for The Unexpected Horcrux. Locked within Harry's brain is a fragment of James, which somehow got into Harry's mind the night Voldemort killed his parents. James and Harry merge, and Harry tries to pick up the pieces, using both Harry and James' marbles. The Sorting Hat is introduced as a supporting character - he's a rude bit of fun.
Teddy Lupin and the Forest Guard - by Fernwithy - archived on SugarQuill.net and LiveJournal
Fernwithy is an amazing writer - I hope some day to take her out for coffee just so I can say that I've met her face-to-face. This is a post-HPDH story dealing with the adventures of Teddy Lupin at Hogwarts - it dovetails into some of Fernwithy's other stories. A lovely discussion of Identity. An amazing cast of characters that you really care about. Updates almost every night to LiveJournal, which I then read in the morning.
Stories that I'm watching, with comments:
Harry Potter and the Toll of Destiny - by Legobean - archived on Phoenixsong.net
This is an interesting - picking up the pieces after the war story that for a while was working on being a psychological study (literally) in which Psychologist!Hermione has sucked out all of Harry's post-war memories to help him deal with the trauma. The story seems to have turned a corner of late and is having a difficult time dealing with portraying the tension in the relationship between Harry and Ginny.
Harry Potter and the Deadly Deception - by Delyla - archived on Phoenixsong.net
I've done a few chapters as a free-lance beta on this one. As I told the author in an e-mail, the premise of the story is dreadful - Harry fakes his death and then comes back to Hogwarts in disguise, where he is enrolled in Slytherin. That being said, the writing is excellent. Updates have been sparse.
Meaning of One, Part Two - by Sovran - archived on SIYE
As is often the case with SIYE stories, this one could use a bit more beta polish. Another story with a dreadful premise, but the characterization and storytelling are superb. Ginny is Harry's missing soul-mate. They meet at Kings Cross and once they touch, their lives, minds and magic bond in a way that few can comprehend. Yeah, right. Kinda takes the mystery out of who Harry's going to pair with at the end. It's a top-notch story, though.
Grey Maiden IV, Darkness Rising - by Chris Widger - archived on SIYE
A brilliant story that desperately needs a good beta. The errors in the posted chapters make me cringe. I've downloaded the chapters, fixed the errors and sent them to the author, who has never, ever responded to any of my e-mails. That being said, it's a corker of a story - yet another start from the beginning and retell the saga story. Lily and Harry have a contemporary who's a precocious Auror - the Grey Maiden - after Lily and James die, Harry is raised by the Grey Maiden - who gives Harry a very different upbringing. Harry is sorted into Slytherin, yet still makes friends with Hermione and then, a year later, Ginny, who is also sorted into Slytherin.
The Lie I've Lived - by JBern - archived on Fanficauthors.net
I'm Jim's beta, but not for this story. Jim's a terrific storyteller who is learning the mechanics of writing and improving by leaps and bounds. This story got my own juices going for The Unexpected Horcrux. Locked within Harry's brain is a fragment of James, which somehow got into Harry's mind the night Voldemort killed his parents. James and Harry merge, and Harry tries to pick up the pieces, using both Harry and James' marbles. The Sorting Hat is introduced as a supporting character - he's a rude bit of fun.
Teddy Lupin and the Forest Guard - by Fernwithy - archived on SugarQuill.net and LiveJournal
Fernwithy is an amazing writer - I hope some day to take her out for coffee just so I can say that I've met her face-to-face. This is a post-HPDH story dealing with the adventures of Teddy Lupin at Hogwarts - it dovetails into some of Fernwithy's other stories. A lovely discussion of Identity. An amazing cast of characters that you really care about. Updates almost every night to LiveJournal, which I then read in the morning.