Everything Geek: Fan Fiction

Have you ever wondered what happened to a character once the movie is finished? Do you ponder the life path of the protagonist the moment you read the last page of your favourite book? Does the ending to a TV show you like left you begging for more? Or do you simply think: "Man, I could have produced a WAY better movie then that crap!"

Then, my friend, I introduce you to FanFiction.

Fans (as in obsessed leagues of tongue-wagging geeks, not the cooling device) have been altering their favourite stories for years, tweaking the storylines, enhancing the characters' hues, and marking their prrrrecious with their own personal touch.

I first discovered FanFiction.net (a hyperlink to the page can be found above, in red.) when reasearching an author whose book I was currently reading. The author in question was Cassandra Clare and the book I was reading was City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments Trilogy. While reading her biography, I followed a link to her Draco Trilogy, which was described by many as "the best fan-fiction ever".

When I finished reading the third and final "book", Draco Veritas, I was officially hooked and began searching the net for anything homemade and that is when I stumbled upon fanfiction.net.

There are fan-written sequels, prequels, remakes, reimaginations, and a lot of "children-of" stories. The children of the Losties find the island; The children of Sidney Prescott return to Woodsboro; The children of Buffy become slayers...I think you're starting to get it.

But amidst all the unfinished stories and the cheesy ripoffs, there are golden gems. Like the Scream tv series that documents the life of the characters in Scream 4 prior to the events. It's one of the most reviewed "fanfic" on the website. It's good. Like really good.

I dare you to visit the website and not spend four hours on it.

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: Nerd Fashion

Wow, I haven't blogged much this month - It's the shortest month but also set dead in Canadian winter season and we all know how much winter can trigger procrastination. I swear, it does!

Geek-ing seems to be the big trend right now, with rappers and rockstars jumping on the bandwagon of late. Reading glasses, magic, and anything "original" seems to dominate styles everywhere.

It's hard to differentiate between the geek and the hipster nowadays, mainly because hipsters have taken what they think is cool in all brands and mashed it up into their own "original" concept.

Nonetheless, geeky fashion is what's trending right now. Let's take a look, shall we?

The Pacman Belt Buckle

The belt and buckle part of the accessories is the one often used by geeks and freaks. While the norm is to spruce up the neck, wrists, and ears, the Geek thought out-of-the-box by decorating the loin area. And it works.

While I suggest a Pacman belt buckle to geek up your attire, any videogame related buckle can work. But be careful, some buckles have crossover (I.E: they "change" the design to make it look "dated" and "used") features and you can soon find yourself in the hipster zone. Beware of the hipster zone.

Thick Eyeglasses

This is quite possibly the Geek's most significant accessory. It's been with the genre since the beginning. I mean, in the olden days all you needed was a pair of big ole glasses and you were labelled a nerd. But rest assured, times have changed and if you go out with a pair of thick glasses you will attract the crowd, not repel it. Unless zits are involved. Zits are rarely crowd pleasers.

The Bowtie

Ouuhh my favourite! I own black and brown bowties and use them only for special occasions (trendy dates, coffee shop/jazz house outing) and it always makes me feel so intelligent. Bowties have that special power. So cool!

It's doubly hot when paired with a crisp white shirt and suspenders but this combo of sexiness can only be used once in a while. Bowties make you feel intelligent, yes. But the addition of the super macho suspenders can make anyone's ego fly through the roof. So take a step back, and put the bowtie down. There you go.

The Sneakers

Some would argue that real geeks (aka the computer junkies) couldn't care less how decked out their shoes are, but the trendy geek (aka the social junkie) will run rampant through the aisles to find the flyest sneaker there is. Just how nature rolls, you know.

It's important that the sneaker doesn't creep into the rapper/skater category; it can't be too big or have too many patterns on it. Extra points though if your shoe is custom and rocking out like this one:

Do you support the Geek??

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: Answering with Movie Quotes

To be part of the elite geek squad, you need to know your quotes; movie quotes, that is. Answering someone with a simple yes, a shrug, or a blunt no is just not lame enough to be considered geek. You need that extra jolt of nerdiness. In comes the movie quotes!!

If your friend knows nothing about movies - or to the least your massive obsession with movies - then expect to receive a massive dose of confusion face. Just explain. The quote loses its funny but your preparing that friend for more quote-answers!!

 

"It's the rules(, Dr. Gordon)" - Zep (Saw)

I use this movie quote a lot, even though Michael Emerson's character doesn't actually say the "Dr. Gordon" part. Use this quote when you want the other person to know that fairness has nothing to do with life.

Friend: "Oh my god, I got a parking ticket! That's not fair!"
Me: "It's the rules, Dr. Gordon"


"I have a feeling were not in Kansas, anymore." - Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz)

Aha. This one I use whenever I'm somewhere I don't feel comfortable.

*looks out car window to find shacks and people crouched over crack pipes*
Me to friend: "I have a feeling were not in Kansas, anymore"


"May the force be with you" - Han Solo (Star Wars)

Most likely the ultimate geek quote. Use only when you want to cheer up the other person in times of stress.

Friend: "I'm so nervous, my driving exam is in an hour!"
Me: "May the force be with you!"


"I'll be back" - The Terminator (The Terminator)

Not to be confused with Stu Macher's "I'll be right back" line in Scream 1. You would use this quote in a situation where you are forced to retreat, but plan on coming back for more.

Teacher: "Sorry, you are two minutes late. I can't let you in the class"
*teacher closes door*
Me to closed door: "I'll be back"


These are my most used quotes. But there are random ones that slip their way into my vocabulary every once in a while. Such as:

• You can't handle the truth - Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men
• Afterall, tomorrow is another - Vivien Leigh in Gone With the Wind
• It's elementary, my dear Watson - Sherlock Holmes in any and all adaptations
• My precious - Andy Serkis in Lord of the Rings

What's your favourite quote-answer??

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: The Buffyverse

Oh the "Verse". All geeks out there will agree that to turn anything from cult status to geek status, you have to add the suffix "Verse". Such as Buffyverse. It's like the universe 'cept only with Buffy shit. Isn't that a world we all want to live in? My thoughts exactly.


The Movie
Joss Whedon was toying with the idea of making a movie revolving around female empowerment for quite some time. He wanted something different than the damzel in distress. His first idea would be centered around an immortal waitress named Rhonda. Yeah, right, aren't we all glad he didn't go down that route!!

What finally emerged from the rubble was a light-hearted, sometimes spazzy, teen comedy about sex, drugs, violence, and school bullying. Joss has written a darker script and he did express dissapointment with the final outcome.

The movie showcased Buffy as a ditzy cheerleader who goes against the grain and fights the path that was laid out for her. It could have been great, but execs turned it into a so-so pop-culture movie that made more people laugh then scream.

I find Kristy Swanson was perfect for the role. She portrayed Buffy just as brilliantly as Sarah Michelle Gellar did, although this statement would not be well accepted at a Buffy convention. They hate the Swanson!! Rounding out the cast is Donald Sutherland, Luke Perry, David Arquette, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, and Hilary Swank. Yes, the same Hilary Swank. Check out cameos by Ben Affleck and Ricki Lake!

The TV Show (seasons 1-7)
I already blogged about my love for this series here and here, so you're free to check out what contradictions can be found between the posts. :)

Okay, so I know I've said this a gazillion times, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer is hands-down the best TV show ever made. For one hour it made teens around the world laugh, scream, cry, question. It made us fall in love with some of TV's most detailed and complexe characters ever written.

Yeah, sometimes there was filler episodes about sharkboys or preying manthis teachers but the core stories were always spot-on and Buffy was known for having some of the best season finales in its time.

It comes at no surprise that even to this day, us fans are still begging for more. When I say Joss Whedon is a God, I'm not kidding.

The Tie-in Novels

You know a series or movies has gained geek status when they start making tie-in novels. These books are rarely considered canon to the original storyline and oftentimes features the characters in a dreamworld or alternate reality.

They were really popular during the show's duration but eventually less were made when the series finished after seven seasons.

I have yet to read any tie-ins merely because it isn't Joss Whedon's work. And what I like about Buffy is the interactions between the characters, it's all in their body language. Not so sure how that would translate into words.

The Graphic Novel (seasons 8-9)

I really wanted to continue with the Buffy storyline and even almost bought the first graphic novel, The Long Way Home, but for some reason I put it back on the shelf. I read alot about the graphic novel continuation and it just seems all a bit weird. Buffy has a lesbian relationship, people have magical powers, Dawn becomes a giant. It all seemed too comic-y for me.

But while doing a bit of reading for this blog, I found out there was a season 9, which went back to the more subtle terror of the tv series. I'm slightly more tempted to start the graphic novels now!

With all this plus the countless fan fiction on the internet, you can't really go wrong. A chick that kicks ass is pure geek. At its best!


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: Y: The Last Man

Most people have a bit of geek in them. Either you obssess over one particular movie, play online video games, read graphic novels, or just like to wear taped glasses and say things like "Bazoinka!"

Luckily for you, February is dedicated to Everything Geek. Let's start off, shall we?



Y: The Last Man


What it is: A masterpiece novel that uses graphic images to display its story. 10
Who created it: Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra

Why it rocks the geekdom: This story revolves around one man, Yorick, who must unravel the mystery of why he's the only living human male to have survived a freak plague that killed off every mammal carrying the Y chromosome, except the hero in question and his adorable - and oftentimes lifesaving - capuchin monkey Ampersand.

The ink work is superb in this series and that is what makes Graphic Novels soooo good: You can see peripeties unfold in the background that the main characters don't see - sometimes ever. Sometimes there are images or words that tilt their hat to other works. Sometimes you see characters conspire, other times you may catch references to illegal substances or taboo art hidden in the back.

But behind every great story, geeky or not, there is a love story of sorts. This time around, Yorick must find his girlfriend Beth who - call it bad luck - is backpacking in the Australian Outback. With every man just suddenly dying, getting to the Island Down Under is no easy task to accomplish.

Luckily Yorick finds help along the way. He meets lesbian oddball Dr. Allison Mann, who believes her experimental work on human cloning may have caused the plague. By far, one of the best female character ever written. She doesn't fit the mold in any conventional way and unlike TV or movie characters, you don't tire of her voice. Judging by her image, I'm guessing Dr. Mann has a very annoying voice.

There are several sub-plots especially surrounding Yorick's "bodyguard", Agent 355 and her ties to secret government agencies. She genuinely wants Yorick to live, and her will is unquestioned throughout the series which I find really endearing. I hate shady characters so to have 355 in the picture is awesome! And the woman can swing a nasty punch!

But for every woman he meets that want him to live, there are thousands who want to see the last man die.

A rich tale of love lost, families shattered, and mysteries lurking around every corner.

Have a great read, geeks!!

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink