Fan fiction is not only a fun and worthwhile pursuit in its own right, but it has proven to be the lifeline through which its source material can continue to exist. Before Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, it existed solely as fan fiction for a good sixteen years, and many of the writers of the 2005 Who were products of fandom. People like Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell were writing fan fiction, keeping their beloved property alive any way they could! And now, Doctor Who is the most popular show on the BBC all these years later. All because fans just wouldn’t leave it alone.
Caprica’s cancellation left a void in the hearts of sci-fi fans all over the world who were only just starting to become emotionally invested in this thought-provoking show. When the final episodes aired this week, I saw so many tweets from people who weren’t crazy about the show but, having seen the final episodes, fell in love with the story and wished for more. Caprica bravely tackled themes and issues that are relevant to today’s world as well as provided a showcase for social/ethnic minority characters, and what disappointed fans most was that the show was canceled when it clearly had so much more storytelling potential.
So, I’ve decided to create an opportunity for fans to take matters into their own hands by exploring that potential themselves!
“Beginning of Line” will launch Tuesday, January 11th, and will begin with “Caprica: Season 2.” Season Two will include 18 brand new stories for you to enjoy, written by Caprica fans from all over the world! Each story will be accompanied by a piece of Caprica-inspired artwork also created by a fan, and will be posted weekly the way episodes would have aired had the show been allowed to continue. There will be as many iterations of the Caprica universe as there are contributors, and you will be free to discuss the merits and drawbacks of each in our forums. You’re also invited to submit Caprica-inspired fiction and artwork yourself!
Caprica and Battlestar fans are used to hearing the phrase “end of line,” the computer command that punctuated the Cylon Hybrid’s cryptic messages as well as titled the brilliant mid-season finale of Caprica. I believe that, despite Caprica’s cancellation, we’ve only started to discover what’s possible with these characters and with this world. Welcome to “Beginning of Line”!
“Beginning of Line” launches January 11th, on a humble Weebly site. Bookmark it and check back on Tuesday at the only place where you can find new, regularly updated stories set in the world of Caprica! And if you’re a writer or visual artist interested in hearing more about submitting work, email [email protected]!
The future of humanity begins with a choice. The future of Caprica begins with you.
Teresa Jusino was born on the same day that Skylab fell. Coincidence? She doesn’t think so. Her “feminist brown person” take on pop culture has been featured on websites like ChinaShopMag.com, PinkRaygun.com, Newsarama, and PopMatters.com. Her fiction has appeared in the sci-fi literary magazine, Crossed Genres, and her essay “Why Joss is More Important Than His ‘Verse” is included in the upcoming book WHEDONISTAS: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon By the Women Who Love Them, coming in March 2011! Get Twitterpated with Teresa, or visit her at The Teresa Jusino Experience.
