Hmmm... am I the only one out there who actually really enjoys reading serial-files?
I think that entirely depends. I happen to really enjoy when I get the sense I'm reading an "inspired by" story, where the premise starts off awfullllly close to story such-and-such, but the characters themselves are turned around enough and different enough that I can say, "so basically, this is The Golden Compass if the main character had been a young blind boy and his daemon was a ghost" or whatever: the characters (which is where a lot of the really hard work in writing comes in, I think) are different enough, even if they come from a jump-point of a similar premise.
That's why I harped mostly on "this is the exact same character" -- because it's not original, then, it's just taking the short-hand from the fanfic (is short, wears a braid, has a temper, doesn't like milk, blah blah blah) and not actually bothering to at least, at very least, change some of these simple details.
I'm also used to AUs, as well, with same character, different setting, and that doesn't throw me as a fanfic-reader, which is why I tend to associate "designation of fanfic" with the character (and its quirks) over the world/setting -- so many settings do have such strongly derivative or overlapping or repetitive elements, especially in sub-genres, while the characters differ enough that they're what sets it apart. Hell, you could say if you've seen one Gundam you've seen 'em all, which is only true insofar as you ignore the distinct characters.
It's mostly to do with expectations: if I'm expecting a new & unique story, and I get a retread, that's where I get really annoyed. I mean, if all I wanted was to read more of Edward Elric, then I could've just gone and read a piece that comes highly recommended, where I know I'm going to get quality, instead of spending $5 or more on an author that's wholly new to me and thus unproven.
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Date: 8 Feb 2010 09:39 pm (UTC)I think that entirely depends. I happen to really enjoy when I get the sense I'm reading an "inspired by" story, where the premise starts off awfullllly close to story such-and-such, but the characters themselves are turned around enough and different enough that I can say, "so basically, this is The Golden Compass if the main character had been a young blind boy and his daemon was a ghost" or whatever: the characters (which is where a lot of the really hard work in writing comes in, I think) are different enough, even if they come from a jump-point of a similar premise.
That's why I harped mostly on "this is the exact same character" -- because it's not original, then, it's just taking the short-hand from the fanfic (is short, wears a braid, has a temper, doesn't like milk, blah blah blah) and not actually bothering to at least, at very least, change some of these simple details.
I'm also used to AUs, as well, with same character, different setting, and that doesn't throw me as a fanfic-reader, which is why I tend to associate "designation of fanfic" with the character (and its quirks) over the world/setting -- so many settings do have such strongly derivative or overlapping or repetitive elements, especially in sub-genres, while the characters differ enough that they're what sets it apart. Hell, you could say if you've seen one Gundam you've seen 'em all, which is only true insofar as you ignore the distinct characters.
It's mostly to do with expectations: if I'm expecting a new & unique story, and I get a retread, that's where I get really annoyed. I mean, if all I wanted was to read more of Edward Elric, then I could've just gone and read a piece that comes highly recommended, where I know I'm going to get quality, instead of spending $5 or more on an author that's wholly new to me and thus unproven.