Fandoms I Have Loved 8: Oz

[thefourthvine]

I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to Oz, I know nothing. But when has that ever stopped me before? Roll on with the FIHL, and if I get it wrong, hey, just tell me so.

Oz is a TV show. About a maximum-security prison. That did its damnedest to show prison life the way it really is. And it was written by Tom Fontana. This is all

Comments

[thefourthvine]

You aren't late to this party; I only posted it today. (And how did The X-Files break your heart? That's one fandom I'll never explore, because it strikes me as something you had to be there for. Plus, it eats fangirls for breakfast. So I'm not going there, and you can feel free to ruin it for me.)

So you went XF --> Oz --> TS --> dS? Um. One of these things is not like the other, and I'm thinking it's the one with the prisoners and the rape scenes and the highest body count since Pulp Fiction. No, wait; it's got a higher body count, and Tarantino cries nightly with jealousy.

Oz is a rough sandbox to play in as a reader or a writer, but the good stuff really transcends the quality of most fan fiction, and that makes it a good place to be. And there's an incredible renaissance happening there -- lots of good writers who are passionate about the show.

See, now, that's exactly what I was going on about; the sand may be ground glass, but that just means that kids who play in it are tough as nails. And, as it happens, really good with their, you know, keyboards, so that's where that analogy falls apart. Anyway, I read it for the brilliance of the writers. (FF, of course, not Fontana, 'cause his brilliance is the kind that gets people confined for others' safety.)

Ooo, yes, I love "Jailbait," and it actually was a tossup - that or "Zipless." And then I remembered that new people in a fandom prefer happy PWP to perfect, brutal backstory, and my choice was made for me. But who is the other author who has nailed the Schillinger voice? I must know.

And thanks for the ego-boost. I'm all joyous and blushing.

[ardent_muses]

how did The X-Files break your heart?

Long story and fascinating to nobody but me *G* but the gist is that I was a Mulder/Scully shipper from day one and I finally got sick of hearing from The Creator that they would never "get together". Although two characters who risk their lives for one another and turn their backs on everything for each other and say things like "you are the only one I trust" -- well, if they are single, over 21 and hotter than two very hot things, I would say you got a couple of characters who are in love. Isn't that what *slash* is all about? Hello? So I gather he ended up putting them together anyway, after 7 or 8 seasons, and he did it in a half-assed way. But I was out of there by the fifth. I don't like being jerked around. Bitter? Moi? *G* (I still love catching the early S1 or S2 eps on TV, though. Such good stuff.)

So I went offline for a few years and then started watching Oz and developed a thing for Meloni and watched SVU, and found the lovely and gracious Meloni site (which you should check out if you haven't), where I made disreputable new friends and found myself reading Oz fanfiction (much of it slash). And then it was all downhill (literally) from there. *G* I started reading TS, and spent a summer taping the show at 7 am, but I was just passing through and ended up in DS-land by fall. And the rest is history. *G*

God, I'm so fascinating. But back to Oz.

the sand may be ground glass, but that just means that kids who play in it are tough as nails

::nods:: Well put. I'm not that tough anymore, but I do admire those who do.

Ooo, yes, I love "Jailbait," and it actually was a tossup - that or "Zipless." And then I remembered that new people in a fandom prefer happy PWP to perfect, brutal backstory, and my choice was made for me.

Yes, I figured. Zipless is more generally approachable. And they're both excellent.

But who is the other author who has nailed the Schillinger voice? I must know.

There may be others by now, but Gemma Files is incredible. She writes mean, nasty, brutal stuff. Yum. *G* Her take on Vern used to be undisputed until Rowan came along. In my opinion, Rowan gave a wonderful alternative take on the Keller/Schillinger relationship that opened the whole thing up to new possibilities. Not sure if Gemma's still doing any Oz at all, but her stuff is still out there. Her "My Wife and My Dead Wife" is a classic.

Also, it's not Vern, but you might check out Collision -- a B/K story that bonked me over the head with how sexy slash could be.

And thanks for the ego-boost. I'm all joyous and blushing.

All compliments are very well-deserved. :)