Thursday, September 29, 2011

3rd Best Fanfiction Of All Time-Distorted by Guessworks

3. Distorted by Guessworks

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: Angst, Horror, Thriller, Romance, Alternate Universe
Rating: Older teen for drug use, terrifying imagery, and mentions of suicide
Type: Short Story, 8000 words
Status: Completed
Completed: February 25, 2011

Starring Characters: Sheik, Roy, Zelda, Link, Samus

I was passing through the Smash Brothers section one day in February. I didn't intend to stay long, but then a contest caught my eye. Two people named Foxpilot and PitFTW were clever enough to come up with an Alternate Universe romance instead of the overused and occasionally cliche Smash Bros universe and its stigmas. I was interested and read up on the entries. When I found this story, I was floored. I couldn't believe there was writing this good... anywhere. Inspired by this and other works in the contest, I decided to start my Fanfiction career with an entry for their contest. (Also just yesterday I found out I came in second to last. Awesome! :D)

And I haven't left that section yet. And nothing's been the same since.

Now, I love Foxpilot and Pit, but I have got to say that Guessworks' entry being one of the bottom entries is one of the biggest crocks of bullshit I've ever heard. She was robbed as this is not only the best entry to their contest but the best short story in the entire section. And this is the one section I've read up and down. She absolutely killed it.

What makes this story haunting is not so much the acts of physical violence which one would normally think would provoke fear and horror. Guessworks takes you into the mind of a haunted, somewhat insane young woman (Sheik) who is convinced that she is nothing and that her perfect sister (Zelda) is evil and seeks to ruin her life. And as you read on, you start to wonder what is real and what is fiction- it's not quite as straightforward as it seems.

I look to my left at the mirrored wall. In the reflection I see a pale girl with big grey eyes, pin-straight blonde hair, a big nose, pointy shoulders, knobby knees... People tell me that I am beautiful. We are semi-identical, after all, but I know they all believe that she is the prettier twin. People tell me that I am not fat, that I am skinny. I don't believe that either.

Suddenly the girl in the mirror morphs into the one I hate most. She stands there, in her fancy crimson costume, grinning at me like there is nothing wrong with the world. Screeching, I punch her with all of the strength I can muster. The glass shatters and rains around me.

I start to panic when I see her ugly head on every single shard. I turn around, but she is on the mirror behind me. I am surrounded by her.

"What's wrong, dear sister? Aren't you happy?"

Her falsely sweet voice makes me sick.

"You are my understudy! You should be proud."

I don't want to be proud. I have failed! I was not perfect, I failed! But she wasn't perfect either! She deserves nothing!

"Dear sister, you are mistaken... I deserve the world on it's knees."

"STOP!" I scream at the top of my lungs, frantically scratching my ears. "STOP! SHUT UP!"


What makes it terrifying is the uncut, raw trip into Sheik's tortured psyche. Guessworks holds no punches and keeps no subtlety. And while normally that means a shlock of cheese and cliche and oh god this again, here it's just a knife to the heart. She proves that you don't have to be subtle to be true and realistic.

I could go on and on about how remarkable her interpretation of Sheik is, but there's a lot to talk about here. The plot itself is simple enough to leave things open to anything instead of going down a worn path. The haunted and self-loathing Sheik is the understudy to her ballet sister, Zelda, with whom she shares a hateful, volatile situation. Zelda is doing the ballet with her boyfriend, Link, who Sheik loves dearly. Link's understudy is Roy, a kindly young man who cares for Sheik. This is the short basis of the plot as there isn't much else to reveal without spoilers. But the interesting thing about the plot is that it doesn't quite feel solid and yet things really do happen. Usually a plot not being solid is a bad thing but I quite like it here with it not feeling cemented. You're busy being drawn in and not taking events into account. It's truly hypnotic.

Even the way she writes it is absolutely masterful. At the beginning of the chapters is a bit of the ballet script, which distinctly but subtly parallels the story itself (is that a paradox, distinct yet subtle?) I've come to love people who truly compose their stories, and Guess is no exception. She is a master of it.

It's clear that expertly handled raw psychological and emotional trauma is more frightening than watching Jigsaw kill someone by disembowelment six hundred and sixty six times. But at the end of the day, it leaves you more moved than those murders ever will.

This was the true winner of Pit/Fox's contest. Sorry, Pikana. Your story was great, but this was the best of them all. And definitely one of the best I've ever read. I owe this story and its brilliant author a lot.

Friday, September 23, 2011

4th Best Fanfic of All Time-A War Apart by Sigcius

4. A War Apart by Sigcius

Section: Advance Wars
Genre: War, Drama, Angst, Thriller
Rating: Teen to Older teen for violence, occasional swearing and personal trauma
Type: Chapterfic, 140,000 words
Status: Completed
Completed: December 29, 2010

Starring Characters: OC Christoph, Sami, Max, Eagle, Rachel, OCs Sepp, Roma, Sigfried

This was actually the very first fanfic I ever favorite and what really moved Fanfiction from a guilty pleasure by total geeks to an art form just as powerful as real life writing in my eyes. And it still holds up today.

This Advance Wars story is as close to a real novel as it gets. Sigcius only wrote one serious story his entire time on the forums but it’s one of the most impressive feats this site will ever have. I think I should break it down for y’all.

The gunman's brown eyes squinted in the dusty wind. The lifeless eyes of the soldier's mask bore no emotion, but his pain was evident. He no longer sobbed or squealed, but his breathing was heavy and erratic. He clutched at his wounded leg.

"Please… please…"

Dark brown, almost black hair obscured the gunman's eyes for a moment, but he brushed it out of the way. "Why?"

"Just… please, don't… don't kill me. I don't – I don't -"

"Not that," the gunman cut him off. "Why this?" He looked up for a moment, as if he were watching something on the far horizon. "Why did you do this?"

"I didn't… I mean… please, don't…"

He looked back down at the soldier and scooped up a handful of sand-colored dirt. Dry, no moisture at all. Then, slowly, he tipped his hand and poured it over the soldier's face. "Why would you do this? To my home? Bleed it so completely of life?"

"I was just following-"

"Don't give me that shit!" The black-clad soldier sobbed again. "Don't tell me you were just following orders!"

"Please," the soldier repeated. "I've got a family, see? I'm just a – a - a grunt!" He reached up to his mask and, with shaking hands, began to remove it.

Crack!


1. The game “Advance Wars” is a turn by turn strategy game that has waaaaaaaaaaaay too casual a feel for its subject matter, at least in the Cosmo Land timeline it’s set in. I mean, I love it to death but every single character is pretty much some sort of stereotype, whether light or heavy. Sigcius takes that and makes it believable, cohesive, gritty and intelligent as it should be, darkening the goof-off factor the games have until it becomes a war drama novel that you could literally see published.

The basic storyline is that the four nations that were formerly allies against Black Hole now start to turn on each other after triggering events start happening. It’s an interesting take but it’s made real and not cartoonish. It’s a story you can take seriously, and the AW section lacks in those.

2. It has original characters, not OCs. And what I mean is that the OCs aren’t typical OCs- to quote Foxpilot “a character that falls in luv with [the main] and haz his hiddz lolololololololol”. He has original characters- flawed, annoying, sometimes unlikable but in the end you still support him or watch him at least. Christoph is angry, sometimes arrogant and very misguided but that’s part of the beauty of the story.

3. It is all so intricate and so detailed that, again, it’s a novel. It’s a book, a real story. It says a lot about Sigcius that he’d write a full length book for a section that hardly anyone frequents. If he writes a real book, he will undoubtedly be a success because he practically wrote one here.

Simply put, it is an accomplishment in the evolution of fanfiction writing, and a remarkable piece in general. If you want to know how to write remarkable fiction, set some time aside to read this fic, whether you played this game or not.




Wow... only 3 fics left. Ain't that just crazy? And I'm very proud of these three fics. I'm still caught up about the order just a smidge, but I'm pretty sure numbers 3, 2 and 1 are decided.

Thanks for reading!

MoD

5th Best Fanfic of All Time- Speak Now! by Layla Kagamine

5. Speak Now by Layla Kagamine

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: Romance
Rating: Teen- it’s a light story but does have language and occasional innuendo.
Type: Short Story Chapterfic- 6,000 words
Status: Completed
Completed: January 28, 2011

Starring Characters: Nana, Lucas

I'm willing to bet Layla Kagamine is a hopeless, attentive and intelligent romantic. I can tell that’s true even though we haven’t spoken much and that is because she wrote this remarkably relatable, in tune and thoughtful romance fic that reminds up of why we love and who we love.

The story is the winning entry to The Stupendous Jimbo’s Challenging Romance contest which outlawed dialogue of any sort. Reading this fic, though, you’re not thinking “Wow, she did a good job without dialogue!” You’re thinking “Wow… this- I know this. It’s remarkable how much she knows me.” And she knows romance and love, and you have a strong feeling that this is written from experience.

Today was my best friend Lucas's wedding with a lady whom he had met 6 months ago. Lucas is one beautiful man; he has beautiful eyes that put stars to shame, an attractive shy smile and a powerful brain (maybe the reason why he has PSI?). We have been best friends for almost a decade, ever since that first day I met him in grade 8. I was the new girl, moving into a new town, he was the shy guy...

And, we just went from there.

We have been inseparable ever since. I was there for him during his first crush. I was there for him when his mother and brother died. I was there when he won the gold medal for the math-letics and I was the one defending him whenever he got taunted or teased. Now, 10 years later, he's getting married... Now, normally, I would have loved to attend my best friend's wedding, be the supporting friend to share one of his best and happiest moments.

...

Due to some reasons, however, I cannot help but have problems sitting through this one.


The story follows Nana, who is crashing her best friend Lucas’ wedding because she knows the woman he is marrying is a monster (but come on, I love Toadette!) and because she has also discovered that she is madly in love with him. Sure, it’s basic fare, but it’s not the plot that matters sometime, but the execution.

The story is spoken from a tone that is personal not only in the way that it is emotional but in the way that it is sharp, witty and occasionally sarcastic, as if it’s being spoken directly from Nana herself. Nana speaks in the present as she prepares and performs her wedding crash, and in the past as she remembers all the moments between Lucas and herself that she should have noticed showed how much they were meant for each other. That’s what makes it remarkable and relatable; you see yourself in the little moments and the big productions of this story. My personal favorite scene is the one revolving around Lucas’ birthday gift to Nana; it’s something that would really happen.

Even though this is number five on my list and there are fics ahead of it that have a good amount of romance, this is ultimately my favorite romantic fic written on this site. It’s someone’s heart written for the world to see.

6th Best Fanfic of All Time- In Transit by Sequitur

6. In Transit by Sequitur

Section: NCIS
Genre: Tragedy, Angst
Rating: Everyone, although you have to pay attention to feel the full impact
Type: Oneshot, 2000 words
Status: Completed
Completed: October 20, 2005

Starring Characters: Tony DiNozzo, Kate Todd

This is simply one of the smartest, most incredible oneshots I’ve ever read, especially for a section I don’t often read from an author I’ve never met and a story 5 years before my time. I don’t exactly know or remember how I got to this story, but it’s simply an achievement in writing.


There’s not much to the story- DiNozzo is on a plane leaving the Midwest and a passenger on the plane notices his erratic behavior and strikes a conversation with him. But if you’re a fan of the show, the unspoken impact hits you like a train made out of bricks carrying the weight of a world.

Even if you haven’t seen the show, the structure of the story, the wisdom and the words will still be just as remarkable. First off, the story is entirely in second person narrative. It’s not some random passenger on an airplane, it’s you. And second person narrative rarely works right but here it makes the story so much more personal than a third person or a first person would have.

"What I always loved about airplanes is the meaningful relationship you form with the person sitting next to you." He seems to have forgotten his tea and the glass is sweating into his hand. You watch the water droplet squirm down his wrist. "You can tell them anything. You can lie, if you want, the way you're lying to me, or you can tell the truth. Whatever." He fixes you with a sharp glance. "Your name isn't Kathy."

You find the magazine at your side. "Sure it is," you say, not looking at him.

"Right," he says, softly, patronizing you. "I was just kidding." Except he wasn't, not even a little. "But. You can say anything. So if you were lying, it wouldn't matter. Because we're never going to see each other again."


The story is poetry in motion without following a poetic structure. You can build up everything that’s going on as if you are the one listening and following along, and here you actually are. That makes it subtly interactive without you doing anything.

Still, the hard impact of the story comes from knowing the show’s storyline and what lead Tony and his companions to the plane in the first place. If you’re really attentive, though, you’ll be able to figure it out yourself. It’s stories like these that are the reason you read, and the reason you become attached to the art of storytelling on a personal level.

7th Best Fanfic of All Time- The Game by MouseMaster42

7. The Game by MouseMaster42

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: Friendship, Humor, Romance, occasional Thriller
Rating: Usually for everyone- Mouse deliberately avoids even the slightest of language but some of the romance may be a tad too heavy.
Type: Episodical fic, 40 episodes, 139,000 words
Status: In progress
Started: January 11, 2011 (1-11-11)

Starring Characters: Marth, Ike, Zelda, Sheik, Samus, Link, Roy, Red, Pit, OC Nya, OC Dr. Stoelhart

You ever watch one of teen shows on Nickelodeon, Disney or anywhere else and bury your head in your hands because they’re so clueless? So many stereotypes and clichés- there’s always the lame friend who’s socially inept, the best friend of the main character who secretly loves him/her and will eventually start dating the main, every man who dates the main character is a total cheating d-bag (unless the main is a man, because we can’t have cheating women on that kind of TV), there’s a wackadoodle Tshirt, and every single other character is a stereotype. It’s clear that the people who create these shows almost always have NO idea what teens like or are like without having to bump it to a TV14 rating and STILL not do it right.
I really wish MouseMaster could write one of those shows for real life.

Until then, though, we have The Game, which is not so much a fanfic as it is an TV show in writing. And it’s like “Lo and behold she did it right!” And it’s true- Mouse creates a show with young adult smashers (some ages have been slightly modified but it’s not like she made Ganon a teen so) that is entertaining, funny and engaging while being entirely real. You can’t trace any of the characters to a real stereotype- they’re fleshed out with different assets of their personality shown at different places.


Okay, I know that I usually have quotes that represent the story here, but it is near impossible; no, impossible, to go into a 40 episode fic and find one defining quote. Just read the dang story! XD


As for clichés, there are admittedly a few, typically concerning romance, but they’re integrated subtly enough and sparsely enough that it’s not much to complain about. She does handle the romance quite nicely as well- instead of the sudden, unrefined rush that the TV shows harbor, she takes things slowly and when things happen, they’re quite poignant.

But The Game as an entire TV show in all facets is quite simply a lot of fun. There’s rascally escapades of some irresponsible behavior, but it’s not as deprecating on teenkind as TV usually has it. There’s those nice days where all the friends have a good time, and you enjoy their interactions and how well she manages more than ten active characters. And most powerfully of all, occasionally there is a serious arc where it looks like things are taking a turn for the worst. It keeps a bit of weight on the fluff and in and of themselves are truly thrilling and keep your attention from beginning to end. It’s a versatile, lovable show that you grow to enjoy like a true TV show, only better.

Also, it should be noted that Mousey has the best fan interaction I’ve seen, replying to every review with a thank you and a sentence or two to answer their questions or just talk with them. Mouse is definitely a voice for her generation and has talents that could make her a leader for youth everywhere, even in something as subtly engaging as this.

Monday, September 19, 2011

8th Best Fanfics Of All Time- I Will Never Forget by TrueToBeBlue and While You Were Asleep by Araceli L

Yes, there is another tie, ladies and gentlemen. I suppose this warrants mentioning that since I started this list two new fics left such an impact during the creathttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifion of this list that I had to include them. The first of these was Tealfrog's story, The Motley Band Crew, at number 10. It didn't help that it took me awhile to decide the top 10 to begin with, so I have another new fic further down the list. To make up for it, I declared another tie between two fics here at eight, and rest assured I love these both equally, and they are large influences on the way I write today.

Here's the first of these!

8a. I Will Never Forget by TrueToBeBlue

Section: Mario
Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Romance, Drama
Rating: Everyone- only one semi-mature reference and it will fly over younger readers' heads.
Type: Oneshot, 3,000 words
Status: Completed
Finished On: January 16, 2010

Starring Characters: Mario, Rosalina

Description: During the celebration of the galaxy's rescue by Mario, only one notable guest is absent. Mario finds her and engages in a conversation that transcends what will happen after he is gone.

Review: It's incredibly impressive when a story is successful when nothing actually happens, and often I love to read these or attempt these. Between the start of this story and the end of this story, you can't really say anything changed except the thoughts of one of the characters. But it works. And it's amazing.

TrueToBeBlue (formerly Jake-X) brings a terrific, albeit unhappy, point in the Mario Galaxy storyline and universe, and explains it through Mario and Rosalina in an understated, beautiful way. The main idea is that Rosalina is afraid of attending the celebration of the galaxy's rescue because she fears she will get acquainted or friendly with the others here. This would be hard on her, as she is only on Earth once every hundred years (although I suppose Mario Kart excuses this. :P)

What I really took away from this at the surface is how perfectly Mario is interpreted. I'm not one to toss around the word perfect very much, but this was perfect, it really was. In a sea of Italian stereotypes and talk-a like-a this-a Mario presumptions, True brings forth an idealistic, friendly, comforting, caring and somewhat cocky adventurer with a kind, daring spirit. That's exactly what Mario should be like, not "Holy Meatballs Pesto Marinara Pasta Lotsa Spaghetti Am I Italian Enough Yet?" I must admit my own Mario fics take more than enough influence from this story. It's incredible.

"Mario, I know you mean well, and I do believe in what you say. I meant what I said when I said I trusted you more than anyone."

"Then why don't you believe me?"

There was no reply.

"Rosalina?"

"I do believe you Mario. Truly I do."

"Then why did you say otherwise?"

"…I am afraid."


And what else I really love about this story is just the underlying emotion that it takes a bit to identify with but you can see in real life. I've recognized that when Mario tries to tell Rosalina about what a help she was that it sounds like my own conversations with a friend who doesn't know how great she is. You can see Mario trying to convince Rosalina that she will never be forgotten, and a lot of the story's beauty lies in that. Because sometime love isn't proven by a kiss or a flower, but in what you'd do for them. And that's what makes this a true love story.

8b. While You Were Asleep by Araceli L

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: Angst, Romance
Rating: 12+ For subtle sexual references- never explicit but the theme of the story is about lust
Type: Oneshot, 1700 Words
Status: Finished
Completed: February 10, 2011

Starring Characters: Marth, Zelda

Description: Marth makes a decision about the painful, manipulative love between him and Zelda and finds his own power at last.

Review: What is, and has always been, Araceli L's best attribute and what makes her one of the best authors on the site (and one of the very few whose new stories I consistently read) is that in every story is the complete humanity of every character and every narrative. She becomes the characters, delving into their psyche and creating their thoughts, their positions, their ways, and then uses them to create the story. And I believe that her story that takes influence from OK Go's While You Were Asleep is perhaps her best example.

Dearest Zelda, whom of us does not know your secret?

Yet even though your hidden desire is buried so deeply within your heart, it shines through your eyes as brightly as your smile. I am not the fool you take me to be.

I am not a fool – but it is easier to pretend I am.

I listen to your serene, peaceful breaths – but they lack in reassurance also. I cannot seem to chase away my insomnia under the stillness of the sparkling sky, under the influence of your whispering breaths. For some reason they mesmerize me, paralyze me – just as you do.

Just as you do.

But I can bear it no longer. What has come over me lately, you might be wondering; my dear, I cannot tell you. I can't answer your despairing face – for you have never answered mine.

This is a fair trade, no?


The story follows Marth, in a narrative to his sleeping lover, as he quietly takes the power at long last. I liken this story to a perfectly tended song. The meek tone gaining its power flows into the beautiful, graceful words he tells his lover which flows into the physical surroundings which flows into the plot itself. It is all universal and interconnected, and creates a beautiful symphony.

And you feel for Marth, even if this goes over your head or you've never been in his position, because he lays his soul bare and Araceli uses it to construct his escape and his renewal. The character is intricate and you can tell she creates them from her sources, staying faithful even when the character is not doing things like he or she normally does. That's masterful, understated writing by someone who is faithful to her work.

Again, this is just an example of one of many works that she has successfully created. I had a hard time finding her best work, but what prompted me to pick this one was that I had read it several times, and it didn't hit me until three readings how well this was done, and more importantly, how much it influenced my work. It was truly a big influence on the philosophical and emotional writing I did later on. And she calls me a big influence on her. ;)


So that's the top 8s. I have the top 7 organized in my notebook and most likely the order will not change. They should be up pretty soon, as it's about time I finished. Also, I'll think about throwing in three more fics above the 20 and possibly expanding this to a top 25, for more officialness.

Cheers!

MoD