My essay: When Worlds Collide: Harry Potter Crossover Fanfiction

[thrihyrne]

I'd been holding off of posting my paper as it's under consideration for the inaugural edition of Distraction, an online journal focusing on critical studies on fan fiction. Due to a variety of factors, however, that edition has been pushed back and won't happen until after Lumos, so I've been given the okay to put it out in the public. So without further ado, here's my paper as it will be presented on Friday. If I get any feedback at the conference I may modify it a bit. My thanks to llembas for editing it for me a couple of months ago. I didn't code it; it's saved as a pdf. Go here to my non-adult HP page for the link and brief commentary.

Read and ruminate, should you be interested!

Comments

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Very interesting! Incidentally, I have just read A J Hall's "Time Shall Not Mend", which is a HP/Lois McMaster Bujold crossover, and so good. The author managed a really impressive pastiche of Bujold's quite distinctive style. It was also a good example of something you mentioned in your article: where two sets of characters are in fact in the same universe without realising it(just, in this case, a thousand years apart). Pym as a secret Wizard was both amusing and alarmingly plausible. The only thing I didn't like was the nastily misogynist characterisation of Ellie Quinn, which was unnecessary and unpleasant, but that was irrelevant to the crossover aspect.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

How cool! I don't know the second author, but I'm sure a Google search would remedy that. I really think that the idea of the two universes pre-existing together is a fascinating one. Thanks for taking the time to look at my paper and drop me a line!

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Bujold is incredibly good. She made hername with the Miles Vorkosigan series, which is space opera of the most intelligent and superior kind, both funny and profound, and has now written three excellent fantasies set in the same world, though not connected, which have the best invented religion that I have ever come across. Go read, go read!

[cim-halfling.livejournal.com]

*squeeees* you're on the program! :) Oh, and to catch the "Nightbus" how fun is that!!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Yes, I sure am!! And my presentation will actually be recorded; I'm not sure whether or not the general public will have access to the recordings and papers, but I'll let you know. :) Hopefully the Nightbus will be better than the school buses we had for The Witching Hour, though in a way those were fun too.

[canellaphile.livejournal.com]

Squeeee! You really, really win - you know? That's amazing.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Aw… thanks!! It's so cool to look at the programming schedule and see our names on it. ;)

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

Is there a whole session at Lumos on crossovers, then? Your paper should provoke some interesting discussion. I hadn't realized how different the motivations were for reading vs. writing crossovers, for instance.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

No, actually I'm the only person addressing crossovers at all. Hopefully it will provoke some discussion, though given how condensed everything is, it'll probably have to be later on in the day. *I* have panels and stuff I want to attend that's back to back, lol!!

And yes, the motivations are very different. I get to have a trial run reading my paper for my boss tomorrow. If he has questions, that'll help me get over my fear of answering them and sounding like a doofus. *g*

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

*nods* I always find that the Q&A part is the most intimidating myself, although it can also be really fun if people come up with additional info or ways to look at the topic. I'm sure you'll do just fine!

[cathexys.livejournal.com]

As a huge xover fan, i found your essay really interesting, and the often negative reaction of the readers quite puzzling...i wonder if that's an HP thing or not...

have a marvelous time at the con!!!!


and congrats on the editor position. looking fwd to the first edition....

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

As a huge xover fan, i found your essay really interesting, and the often negative reaction of the readers quite puzzling...i wonder if that's an HP thing or not...

I'm not sure; they don't seem to be all that popular in Tolkien fandom either. There are vast amounts of Buffy crossovers, and ST of course, but there does appear to be a definite bias against them in HP land.

I'm planning to have a blast at Lumos!! And thanks for the congrats; I hope it prompts people to write more essays about fanfiction. Then again, I'm biased as I so love the topic. ;)

[wolfiekins.livejournal.com]

Fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing with those of us unable to attend LUMOS! A wonderfully in-depth look at a much-maligned form of fanfic. And it seems rather fitting that yours is the only presentation concerning crossovers...I wish I could be present to see it in person; I'll have to wait for the DVD set, I reckon! *g*

One of the very first fics Auntie recced was a Star Wars/HP x-over wherein Snape meets with Palpatine. Sounds ludicrous, but it was so well-written it gave me the chills. Of course, I was intimately familiar with both fandoms, so I believe that enhanced my enjoyment of the fic.

Having written one x-over and being faced with doing another for a challenge, I can say I expect little to no readership for the Buffy/Harry fic due in October. Why write it then? Because the challenge of doing so is irresistible, and I'm eager to attempt to create a believable scenario where the two fandoms can interact. Why will very few (if any) read it? Well, take the HP fandom, then, further reduce that number of fans to those who also LIKE and KNOW BTVS; further reduce that number of readers to those who might want to READ such an x-over, and you're left with a VERY small potential audience. And then factor in the difficulties in posting x-over stories...

Obviously you're familiar with my HP/Trek x-over. I think that WaTE is somewhat unique in that in only projects HP characters into a Trek themed future. Still, it demanded that a reader be at least vaguely familiar with TREKDOM. Despite this, I believe the TREK elements actually drove away potential readers. One of the few commenters of the fic indicated that while they enjoyed the creative elements required to juxtapose the two fandoms, they couldn't help but giggle at the TREK elements. (Perhaps another possible topic entirely: the perceived silliness by many of the entire TREK fandom)

An excellent essay, luv. Again, I'm sorry I won't be present to take in the questions and/or discussions. Most impressive work, per usual!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

And it seems rather fitting that yours is the only presentation concerning crossovers...I wish I could be present to see it in person; I'll have to wait for the DVD set, I reckon! *g*

LOL! Yes, well, I suppose if one is looking at how many aspects of HP fandom and education and scholarship there are to contemplate, crossover fanfiction is only a small sliver. Representative of how it is within the fanfiction enclave as a whole!

Of course, I was intimately familiar with both fandoms, so I believe that enhanced my enjoyment of the fic.

Well, that's what I found interesting in some of the responses; even people who loved two different fandoms might not read a crossover that put them together. I'm glad that you enjoyed the one you read!

(Perhaps another possible topic entirely: the perceived silliness by many of the entire TREK fandom)

::cough:: Looks like an essay *you* could write! ::cough::

Thanks for your comments!

I can say I expect little to no readership for the Buffy/Harry fic due in October.

Buffy/HP is the biggest combo, though; and seeing as how crossovers were listed as a whole section in that particular fqf says something, I think. I bet you'll be surprised at your readership!! But your points reinforce what comments I got: writers write crossovers because they want them, not for the potential readership.

introduction.

[hapendfro.livejournal.com]

Good Morning, stopped by to say hello. I have been reading some of your writing, introduced to you by eldritchhobbit suggestion. I just found your LJ and added you to my friends list. Hope is ok, have a great time at Lumos.

Re: introduction.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Ah, wonderful! eldritchhobbit is a shining soul and wonderful person. So glad that you've come my way; hope you enjoy my writing. What kind of stuff do you like? I can guide you to particular stories if you'd like.

Lumos was a mixed bag, as these things go; I'm glad I went and presented my paper, but I think the conferences are getting *too* big for my taste. I'd rather go to a fanfiction conference if possible in the future.

Welcome! :D

Re: introduction.

[hapendfro.livejournal.com]

Thats a really tough question. I guess my favorites would be based on relationships between 2 persons. Not necesarily male/male although that does seem to be a really popular theme. I like romance, angst, sweetness and everything else that goes in romance, but I also want a good plot. I enjoy the really funny ones as well. Actual I like anything as long as its well written. I dont read too many really long novel length ones I just dont have the time to read or to print them out as I really hate reading long posts on the screen, I have to print everything off to read at my leisure.

Wow I doubt if you were really expecting such a long answer.

Re: introduction.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Sorry to be so late in replying- well, feel free to read any of my stories; if you'd like particular recommendations I can give them to you and/or send you to locations where they're archived. I do love my readership!! ;)

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

Whee, adding you, post ronslash meetup. *grin*

*uses her Eowyn icon, just for you*

Thanks for holding the meetup! (oh, and I think the comm in which I saw the R/D with a side of H was weasleyworship)

WOOT!!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Friending back!! So excited! I'll put you on a few of my filters so you can read my stuff when I post. And you're right; it was over at weasleyworship where I remembered seeing your comment, and looking to see your LJ as well. I'm so pleased you came to the meetup!! :D :D

(am still squeeing about that; that afternoon was definitely the highlight for me!)

Nice icon. ;)